How METRIKA calculates this
Each year, gross pay grows by your yearly raise. At every promotion interval it also jumps by the promotion percentage. METRIKA then runs each year's pay through the same statutory engine as the salary calculator: NSSF (6% up to KES 108,000), SHIF (2.75%), Housing Levy (1.5%) and PAYE with KES 2,400 personal relief.
Tax bands and the NSSF limit are held at today's values, because future changes aren't known. Take-home in today's money divides by (1 + inflation) to the power of the number of years. The raise needed to stand still is found by testing raises until real take-home at the end equals today's.
What to know in Kenya
Kenya's PAYE bands are set in law and aren't adjusted for inflation automatically, so a raise that only matches inflation usually leaves you slightly poorer after tax. The NSSF upper limit rose to KES 108,000 in February 2026 as part of a phased schedule, which also affects pay between KES 72,000 and KES 108,000.
Changing jobs is often where the biggest jumps happen. Try a shorter promotion interval to see how much it changes your path.
Frequently asked questions
What raise do I need to keep up with inflation?
A bit more than inflation itself, because more of your raise is taxed at higher bands. The tool calculates the exact figure for your salary.
What is bracket creep?
When pay rises but tax bands stay fixed, more of your income is taxed at higher rates, so your tax share grows even if your buying power doesn't.
Does this include allowances and bonuses?
Only if you include them in gross monthly pay. Annual bonuses are taxed under PAYE in the month they're paid.
Sources
- Kenya Revenue Authority — PAYE
- NSSF Act 2013 — Year 4 rates from 1 Feb 2026 (Grant Thornton Kenya alert)
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics — CPI & inflation
Rates checked 26 Sep 2026. METRIKA gives estimates, not financial or tax advice.