The NSSF Act 2013 introduced a tiered contribution structure that replaced the flat KES 200 monthly deduction most employers remembered from the old NSSF regime. The transition caused significant confusion, and some of that confusion is still present in HR departments across Kenya today.
This article explains the tier structure plainly, without the legal language.
The two tiers
Tier I covers the lower earnings band up to the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL), currently set at KES 7,000 per month. Both the employee and employer contribute 6% of the Tier I pensionable pay. The maximum combined Tier I contribution is KES 840 per month (KES 420 each).
Tier II covers earnings between the LEL and the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL), currently set at KES 36,000 per month. Both employee and employer again contribute 6% on this band. The maximum Tier II contribution per party is KES 1,740 per month.
Who contributes to which tier
Every employee earning above KES 7,000 contributes to both Tier I and Tier II. Employees earning KES 7,000 or below contribute only to Tier I.
In practice, for most formal sector employees in Kenya, both tiers apply.
The calculation
For an employee earning KES 60,000 per month:
- Tier I: 6% of KES 7,000 = KES 420 (employee) + KES 420 (employer)
- Tier II: 6% of (KES 36,000 - KES 7,000) = 6% of KES 29,000 = KES 1,740 (employee) + KES 1,740 (employer)
- Total employee deduction: KES 2,160
- Total employer contribution: KES 2,160
- Combined monthly remittance: KES 4,320
Note that Tier II is capped at KES 36,000. For employees earning above KES 36,000, the calculation is the same — earnings above the UEL do not attract additional mandatory NSSF contributions.
Common mistakes
Applying the old flat deduction. Some employers, particularly those who have not updated their payroll systems, are still deducting KES 200 per month. This is incorrect under the 2013 Act and exposes the employer to a shortfall in remittances.
Not accounting for the employer portion. NSSF is not just an employee deduction. The employer matches the contribution. HR teams sometimes calculate the employee side correctly but forget to budget for the employer cost.
Treating all employees the same. An employee on a KES 15,000 salary and an employee on a KES 150,000 salary have different NSSF deduction amounts only if one falls below the LEL. Above the LEL, the deduction is capped — both the KES 60,000 and the KES 150,000 employee deduct the same NSSF amount.
Remittance deadlines
NSSF contributions must be remitted by the 9th of the following month. For example, January contributions are due by 9th February. Late remittance attracts a penalty of 5% of the outstanding amount per month.
Practical note
If you are not sure whether your current payroll is calculating NSSF correctly, the simplest check is to take any employee earning above KES 36,000 and verify that the NSSF deduction from their payslip is exactly KES 2,160. If it is different — either the flat KES 200, or some other number — your calculation is wrong and you should correct it before the next remittance cycle.
AndikishaHR applies the correct Tier I and Tier II logic automatically, including the employer contribution calculation, and generates the NSSF remittance report in the format the NSSF portal expects.
Tired of tracking this manually?
AndikishaHR handles all Kenya statutory compliance automatically. When KRA updates the brackets, the platform updates. Your next payroll just runs correctly.