Updated 2026-11-10
Drivers are hired by almost every kind of employer in Kenya: county and national government, NGOs, schools, distributors, transport and logistics companies, embassies and private households. The licence you hold decides which of these jobs you can take. This guide covers licence classes, what drivers are legally owed, what government driver posts pay, and where the vacancies are.
Kenya’s current licence classes are issued by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). Adverts state the class they need:
| Class | Vehicles | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|
| B | Cars, pickups and light vans | Company, personal and NGO drivers, ride-hailing |
| C1 / C | Light to heavy trucks | Distribution, sales route and lorry drivers |
| CE | Heavy trucks with trailers (articulated) | Long-haul and transit truck drivers |
| D1 / D2 / D3 | Passenger vans, minibuses and buses | School bus, staff bus and PSV drivers |
| G | Industrial, construction and agricultural plant | Plant operators (excavators, graders, forklifts) |
Older adverts and older licences still use the previous letters (for example "BCE"); employers read them as the equivalent categories. Carrying passengers for hire also needs an NTSA PSV licence (the badge), for which NTSA asks for a Certificate of Good Conduct. Most employers ask for a clean driving record and a Certificate of Good Conduct for any driving post; see how employers verify it.
The Regulation of Wages (General) (Amendment) Order, 2026 (Legal Notice 108, effective 1 May 2026) sets these minimum basic monthly wages for drivers, excluding house allowance:
| Category | Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret | All other areas |
|---|---|---|
| Driver (medium-sized vehicle) | KSh 30,634.69 | KSh 25,105.72 |
| Driver (heavy commercial vehicle) | KSh 40,724.23 | KSh 35,932.75 |
| General labourer (for comparison) | KSh 18,047.40 | KSh 9,628.07 |
If your employer does not house you, house allowance is paid on top of the basic wage. These are legal floors: an employer may pay more, never less. Overtime, night-outs and per diems for drivers who travel are usually set out in the contract; get them in writing.
| Post | Employer and grade | Basic salary per month |
|---|---|---|
| Driver III (entry) | Makueni County, Job Group D (November 2026) | KSh 18,250 - 22,720 |
| Driver II | IPOA, grade IPOA 12 (October 2026) | KSh 44,720 - 67,340 (consolidated) |
County drivers start on the lower CPSB grades and rise through Driver II and I with experience and trade tests; state agencies set their own grades, which often pay more. See every county grade on the salary scales page.
The legal minimum basic wage for a heavy commercial vehicle driver is KSh 40,724.23 a month in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret, and KSh 30,634.69 for a medium-sized vehicle driver (2026 wage order). Government posts range from KSh 18,250 (Makueni County Driver III) to KSh 67,340 (top of IPOA’s Driver II scale).
A class B licence for cars, pickups and light vans. Truck jobs need C1, C or CE; bus and PSV jobs need a D class licence and an NTSA PSV licence (badge).
County and national government careers pages, NGO and Red Cross vacancy pages, distributor and school websites. The board lists every verified open driver post with a link to the official advert.
Most employers ask for one, and NTSA requires it for a PSV licence. Apply on eCitizen early; it takes time.