NSSF Rates in Kenya: How Much You Pay, Checking Your Balance and Claiming
NSSF takes 6% of your pay, up to KES 6,480, matched by your employer -- KES 12,960 combined under Kenya's Year 4 rates. Checked October 2026.
In this guide▾
NSSF deductions went up again in February 2026, so your payslip may look different from last year's. You pay 6% of your pay and your employer adds another 6%, with your share capped at KES 6,480 a month once you earn KES 108,000 or more.
These are the Year 4 rates that started in February 2026, set out in NSSF's official notice to employers. Read on for how the two tiers work, how to check your balance and what you can claim.
Quick facts: NSSF rates
| Tier I (up to KES 9,000) | Tier II (KES 9,000–108,000) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate | 6% of lower limit | 6% of the band above the lower limit | — |
| Max you pay | KES 540 | KES 5,940 | KES 6,480 |
| Max your employer pays | KES 540 | KES 5,940 | KES 6,480 |
| Max combined | KES 1,080 | KES 11,880 | KES 12,960 |
Source: NSSF Year 4 (2026) Contribution Rates notice, checked October 2026.
How much is NSSF per month?
NSSF works in two tiers, and most of the confusion online comes from people mixing them up.
Tier I covers the first KES 9,000 of your gross pay. You pay 6% of that (KES 540), and your employer pays a matching KES 540. Everyone who earns at least KES 9,000 hits this cap.
Tier II covers the portion of your pay between KES 9,000 and KES 108,000. You pay 6% of whatever falls in that band, and so does your employer, up to a maximum of KES 5,940 each once you earn KES 108,000 or more.
Add the two tiers together, and the most NSSF can take from your payslip is KES 6,480 a month, with your employer adding the same amount. That's up from a combined maximum of KES 8,640 under the old KES 72,000 upper limit. The Year 4 rates roughly doubled what high earners pay in.
A few worked examples, using the 6% rate on each band:
| Gross monthly pay | Tier I (you pay) | Tier II (you pay) | Total you pay | Employer matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KES 9,000 or less | 6% of your pay | 0 | Up to KES 540 | Same |
| KES 25,000 | 540 | 6% × (25,000 − 9,000) = 960 | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| KES 45,000 | 540 | 6% × (45,000 − 9,000) = 2,160 | 2,700 | 2,700 |
| KES 80,000 | 540 | 6% × (80,000 − 9,000) = 4,260 | 4,800 | 4,800 |
| KES 108,000 or more | 540 | 5,940 (capped) | 6,480 | 6,480 |
Want your exact figures without doing the maths yourself? Run your gross pay through our NSSF calculator for an instant Tier I and Tier II breakdown.
Say you're an accounts clerk in Nakuru earning KES 45,000 a month. Your payslip shows KES 2,700 going to NSSF, and your employer pays another KES 2,700 for you, so KES 5,400 goes into your account every month. NSSF is only one of the deductions on that payslip. Our guide to PAYE in Kenya explains the rest, or use our Kenya PAYE calculator, which works out NSSF, SHIF and the housing levy together. For SHIF (rates, SHA registration and paying by M-Pesa), see our SHIF contributions guide.
Your NSSF savings earn interest every year. The Fund declared 17% net interest for the 2024/2025 year at its 8th Annual General Meeting on 6 February 2026, added to members' accounts on top of what they paid in, according to the same official notice.
Is NSSF mandatory, and who registers you?
Yes. Under the NSSF Act, every employer in Kenya must register with the Fund and deduct NSSF from every employee's pay, and the Fund's FAQ page confirms that "all employers must register with NSSF." As an employee, you usually go to the nearest NSSF office with a letter from your employer and your national ID (or alien card or passport) plus a copy. NSSF gives you your membership card and number there and then, according to NSSF's page for employed members. You then give that NSSF number to your employer, who uses it to pay in your contributions.
If you're self-employed, freelancing or running a side hustle with no employer, you can still join as a voluntary member. Visit an NSSF branch with your ID and a copy, and a first payment of at least KES 200 activates your membership, according to NSSF's voluntary member page. After that, you can top up whenever you like by dialling *222# and paying by M-Pesa. That suits irregular income: you can pay KES 1,000 one month and nothing the next, instead of a fixed salary deduction.
That includes house helps and nannies. Our house help salary calculator works out both your share and theirs, and makes monthly payslips.
How to check your NSSF balance
You have four ways to see how much you've contributed, none of which should cost you anything:
- NSSF Self-Service Portal. Register once at selfservice.nssf.or.ke with your NSSF number and ID, then log in any time to view your contributions statement.
- NSSF Mobile Application. The same portal links to an NSSF Mobile App guide for checking your statement from your phone.
- A free statement on request. NSSF's FAQ page says plainly: "NSSF will issue you with a FREE statement of account on demand," showing your contributions and the interest they've earned. Ask at any branch or through the channels below.
- Phone and WhatsApp. NSSF's contact page lists +254 704 303 303 as a WhatsApp line, and the Fund's toll-free number is 0800 2212744, per the FAQ page. The Fund's February 2026 notice also lists
*303#to dial directly for NSSF services.
Don't pay anyone who promises to speed up or release your NSSF statement for a fee. Every official channel above is free.
How to claim your NSSF benefits
NSSF pays out under five benefit categories, each with its own age or eligibility rule and its own documents. This is straight from NSSF's benefits page:
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Core documents |
|---|---|---|
| Age/Retirement Benefit | You reach 55, or you retire from regular employment | Certified retirement letter, certificate of service or termination letter; membership card; ID/passport/alien ID; bank details for EFT |
| Withdrawal Benefit | You're at least 50 and have left regular paid employment | Same as above |
| Survivors Benefit | Paid to a deceased member's dependants, in order: spouse, children, parents, siblings, guardian of minor children, then an administrator | Original death certificate; copy of deceased's ID; claimant's ID; County Administration letter confirming dependants; deceased's NSSF number |
| Invalidity Benefit | You're permanently unable to work due to physical or mental disability (or 50+ with a permanent partial incapacity) | Membership card; ID; certified retirement/medical termination letter; medical report from your treating hospital; bank details |
| Emigration Benefit | You're leaving Kenya for a non-EAC country for good | Membership card; ID or passport; certified termination letter; visa; sworn affidavit of permanent emigration (citizens) or travel ticket (non-citizens) |
All five are claimed in person at an NSSF branch. You can download the forms from the NSSF website, but the Fund still processes claims at an office, not fully online. If you're claiming a retirement or withdrawal benefit, have your KRA PIN ready too, because NSSF payouts can affect your tax.
Common NSSF mistakes
- Don't mix up the "6,480" and "5,940" figures. Some guides say KES 6,480 is the Tier II maximum on its own. It isn't. KES 5,940 is the most you pay on Tier II, and KES 6,480 is Tier I and Tier II together.
- You can't touch your NSSF before 50, except through specific hardship provisions handled case-by-case at a branch. If you need cash sooner, a top SACCO deposit or a treasury bill gives you access without waiting for retirement.
- Keep your NSSF number safe. You'll need it for every claim, every statement request and every new job. Losing your card means a trip to a branch to recover it.
- Self-employed and only earning now and then? The KES 200 voluntary minimum is low on purpose. Activate it even if you can't pay every month, because your balance still earns NSSF's declared interest once it's in. One of the best digital savings apps in Kenya can cover the months you'd rather not lock money into NSSF.
Frequently asked questions
How much is NSSF per month in Kenya?
Between KES 540 (if you earn KES 9,000 or less) and KES 6,480 (if you earn KES 108,000 or more) a month, under the Year 4 rates effective February 2026. Your employer pays a matching amount on top, so the combined contribution tops out at KES 12,960 a month per employee.
What's the difference between NSSF Tier I and Tier II?
Tier I is 6% of your first KES 9,000 of pay, capped at KES 540. Tier II is 6% of whatever you earn between KES 9,000 and KES 108,000, capped at KES 5,940. Both are deducted from the same payslip and remitted together.
Is NSSF compulsory for every employee in Kenya?
Yes. Every registered employer must deduct and remit NSSF for every employee under the NSSF Act. You can't opt out of employed membership, though the amount you pay depends entirely on your salary.
How do I check my NSSF balance without going to a branch?
Register on the NSSF Self-Service Portal to view your contributions statement online, use the NSSF Mobile App, or dial *303# for NSSF services on your phone.
Can I withdraw my NSSF before I turn 50?
Not under the standard Withdrawal Benefit, which requires you to be at least 50 and no longer in regular paid work. Before then, your savings stay locked in and keep earning NSSF's declared yearly interest, which was 17% for 2024/2025.
I'm self-employed. Can I still pay into NSSF?
Yes, as a voluntary member. Visit an NSSF branch with your ID to register, pay a minimum first contribution of KES 200, then top up whenever you like by dialling *222# and paying via M-Pesa.
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