Assessment of domestic workers providing care and support for persons with disabilities in Kenya
0-1 Original language
English
I-1 Name of the initiative
Assessment of domestic workers providing care and support for persons with disabilities in Kenya
I-2 Geographical coverage
KEN
I-2-A Region/country
Kenya
I-2-R Region
Africa
I-2-T Geographical scope
Country
I-3-A Initiative start date
2025
I-3-B Initiative end date
2025
I-4 Leading entity/organization
Workers' organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Government
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Employer and Business Membership Organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Private enterprise
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Social and solidarity economy (SSE) entities
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Civil society, including NGOs
I-6 Has the ILO been involved in the initiative?
Yes
I-6-A Specify how the ILO was involved
The International Labour Organization (ILO) led the assessment with funding from the Global Disability Fund under the United Nations Joint Programme on Unpaid Care, Disability, and a Gender-Transformative Approach, as well as ILO Regular Budget Funds. It was implemented through an agreement with the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), the national coordinating partner. The ILO provided continuous technical guidance to align the study with international labour standards and disability-inclusive research principles. ILO global and country teams supported the methodology, analytical framework, and integration of decent work and approaches aligned with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). All data-collection tools were jointly reviewed and validated before fieldwork, and the ILO supported refinements during the pilot to improve sampling and accessibility. The analysis drew on ILO research, statistics, and labour standards on domestic work and the care economy to strengthen findings on working conditions, wages, and social protection gaps. The report recommends continued ILO engagement to build the capacity of trade unions and national partners, expand contributory and non-contributory social protection models, formalize employment, and advance legislative reforms to ensure domestic workers’ full inclusion in Kenya’s labour and social protection systems.
I-7 Is there collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations System or other partners?
Yes
I-7-A Specify agency names
International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, OHCHR and UN Women
II-1 Justification of the initiative
There is a critical need to address the profound decent-work deficits facing domestic workers who provide essential care and support to persons with disabilities in Kenya. Despite forming the backbone of household-level care systems, these workers operate in a largely informal, undervalued, and unregulated sector. The majority of domestic workers earn less than half of the statutory minimum wage, and the vast majority lack access to social protection, medical coverage, or occupational safety provisions. These conditions undermine both their well-being and the quality of care provided to persons with disabilities.Furthermore, there is a high level of dependency and complex support needs among persons with disabilities in Kenya. Over 65 per cent of care recipients require 24-hour support, yet the country lacks a structured, professionalized care workforce with decent working conditions. Domestic workers fill this gap without formal training, standardized skills, or recognition, creating risks for both workers and care recipients. Strengthening this workforce is therefore essential for disability inclusion, household stability, social protection and decent work objectives.Additionally, Kenya’s domestic workers are excluded from many labour rights frameworks and social security systems. This initiative responds to these gaps by generating evidence to inform policy reforms, including formalization, improved working conditions, skills development, and expanded social protection coverage. It also aligns with national commitments under the Constitution, the Persons with Disabilities Act, the Social Protection Policy, and international labour standards promoting decent work and gender-responsive care systems.Overall, the initiative is necessary to safeguard workers’ rights, enhance the quality of care and support for persons with disabilities, and strengthen Kenya’s care economy through evidence-driven reforms. A policy brief was also developed to advance policy dialogue and inform ongoing advocacy efforts.
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
Other service activities
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Not applicable
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Domestic workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Childcare workers (for children ages 0-start of primary school)
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Personal care and/or assistance workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Nurses
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Social workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Long-term care / geriatric care workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Personal assistants / disability support workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Home-based workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Employers of care workers
II-13-A Specification
The assessment focused on domestic workers employed by private households, and included the perspective of employers of domestic workers. It classified the workers specifically under domestic work, household employment, and home‑based personal care services.
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Persons with other care responsibilities
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
People with disabilities
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, through social dialogue
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, inter-institutional coordination mechanisms
II-2 Objectives and description of the initiative
This initiative seeks to strengthen the protection, recognition, and working conditions of domestic workers who provide essential care and support to persons with disabilities in Kenya. The work responds directly to systemic gaps identified in the national assessment, including widespread informality, long working hours, underpayment, lack of contracts, limited access to social protection, and inadequate training for high-intensity care work. The initiative builds on evidence generated through the assessment and aims to formalize the domestic work sector, enhance skills and professional standards, and promote disability inclusive care systems.The initiative is implemented through coordinated efforts involving government institutions, the trade union representing domestic workers, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and development partners. It integrates capacity building, policy influence, advocacy, and pilot interventions in social protection and professionalization of the sector. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to strengthen the care economy and ensure that domestic workers and persons with disabilities enjoy equitable, safe, and dignified conditions.Objectives of the InitiativeImprove Working Conditions and Labour Protection – Promote decent contracts, wages, working hours, and stronger labour‑standards enforcement for domestic workers, aligning with ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No.189).Expand Access to Social Protection – Pilot tailored social‑protection models and increase NSSF/SHIF registration and compliance to paid and unpaid care providers.Professionalize Care Workers – Develop competency‑based training, certification, and recognition of prior learning.Enhance Disability‑Inclusive Care Systems – Build capacity for disability‑inclusive care and support rights‑based practices through Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and unions.Strengthen Advocacy & Evidence‑Driven Reforms – Use assessment findings to influence policy and advance sector formalization and alignment with international labour standards.
II-3 Type of initiative
National/local law
II-3 Type of initiative
Policy / strategy
II-3 Type of initiative
Advocacy/campaign/awareness-raising
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Recognition, reduction and redistribution of unpaid care
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Reward care workers
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Representation of care workers
II-5 Which is the main policy area of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Labour Protection policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Care policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Employment policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Skills policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Social Protection policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Design and implement integrated and coherent care policies and systems for decent work and gender equality
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Mainstream care into relevant public policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Formalization of informal care jobs and enterprises
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Promoting active labour market policies, education and training, upskilling and re-skilling, skills recognition and skills certification
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Addressing the undervaluation of care work by raising public awareness
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Addressing the unequal gender distribution of paid and unpaid work, and promoting women’s economic inclusion and autonomy beyond caregiving
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Work-life balance policies and measures, including organization, time and location of work, and other terms and conditions of employment
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Universal social protection systems that provide adequate protection to care workers and recognize unpaid care work
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Enhancing the availability of assistance and support services for persons with disabilities to promote individual autonomy and independence
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Preventing and addressing all forms of discrimination against care workers
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Ensuring effective access to labour protection and social security, including through labour inspection, for all care workers
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Policies and strategies on working time, wages, and occupational safety and health, including preventing and addressing violence and harassment
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Collecting and disseminating data on unpaid and paid care work
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Promoting the voice and representation of, and consulting with, care worker organizations, organizations of employers of care workers and unpaid family carers
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Unpaid carers (workers or persons with care responsibilities, parents, other family members, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Paid care workers (nurses, domestic workers, teachers, childcare workers, personal assistants, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Care recipients (children, older persons, persons with disabilities, etc.)
II-9 Geographical scope
Urban and rural
III-1 In a short paragraph, summarize the main results and impacts obtained
The assessment revealed significant decent‑work deficits among domestic workers providing care and support to persons with disabilities, including excessively long working hours, widespread underpayment, high informality, limited access to social protection, and insufficient training despite complex care needs. It also highlighted the essential contribution these workers make in sustaining household‑level disability care, often supporting multiple persons with disabilities while managing substantial unpaid care responsibilities in their own families. The study generated strong evidence that has elevated the visibility of domestic workers within Kenya’s care‑economy and disability‑inclusion discourse. Importantly, a policy brief was developed to translate the findings into actionable recommendations, and targeted advocacy efforts were undertaken with government actors, social partners, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and development partners to advance reforms on formalization, social protection expansion, improved working conditions, and professionalization of care roles. These actions have strengthened momentum for policy change and positioned domestic workers more prominently within national care and labour‑rights agendas.
III-2 Explanation of the innovative element of the initiative for advancing decent work in the care economy
The initiative brings together the care economy, disability inclusion, and domestic work by using a research‑based, worker‑centred approach. It gathers evidence directly from workers through inclusive and reliable methods, and uses these insights to propose practical improvements such as formalizing domestic work, recognizing workers’ skills, and designing social‑protection schemes that meet their needs. Overall, it provides a model that other countries can adopt to professionalize home‑based care and strengthen protections for the people who provide it.
IV-1 What were the main challenges or difficulties during the design and implementation? How were they faced/ addressed?
The assessment faced some challenges, primarily due to the informal and highly dispersed nature of domestic work. Domestic workers providing care and support to persons with disabilities are often hard to reach, work within private households, and lack formal employment records, making sampling and mobilization difficult. To overcome this, the team used a Respondent Driven Sampling approach, complemented by purposive and snowball techniques, which helped reach hidden groups and improve representativeness. Another challenge was the lack of formal contracts and limited worker awareness, which risked incomplete or unreliable data. This was mitigated through careful tool design, pilot testing, and validation by the ILO and the Technical Working Group to ensure clarity, coherence, and accessibility. Logistical difficulties, such as coordinating fieldwork across four counties, managing diverse respondent groups, and ensuring disability inclusive data collection, were addressed by working through Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and county-level networks, who facilitated mobilization and sensitization. Additionally, the sensitivity of discussing wages, violence and harassment, and working conditions required the use of trained enumerators and confidentiality assurances. Despite these challenges, strong partnerships, methodological flexibility, and targeted field strategies ensured successful implementation and robust data collection.
IV-2 Lessons learned and good practices, including room and opportunities for improvement
Partnerships with worker organizations and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) proved essential for accessing hard‑to‑reach domestic workers and building trust during data collection.Use of mixed sampling methods, including Respondent‑Driven Sampling and snowballing, was effective in reaching hidden populations working inside private households.Tool validation and piloting with technical partners ensured clarity, disability inclusion, and cultural appropriateness of questionnaires and interview guides.Opportunities remain to strengthen rights awareness for workers, enhance county‑level coordination, and expand structured training, certification, and social‑protection linkages for domestic workers providing disability‑related care.
IV-5 Potential for transferability, expansion and replicability in other countries and contexts
The initiative provides a practical, adaptable model for reaching informal domestic workers supporting persons with disabilities. Its mixed‑methods approach, partnerships, and advocacy tools make it highly transferable across countries, offering a replicable framework to strengthen care systems, improve working conditions, and inform national reforms.
V-1 Sources of information and documents used on the characteristics of the initiative, including links to websites, news items, toolkits, policy documents or reports
Assessment PublicationPolicy BriefBlog ArticleThe Constitution of KenyaKenya Persons with Disabilities Act (2025)The Kenya Social Protection Policy (2023)Kenya National Care Policy
V-2 Contact information of ILO focal point
Hellen Magutu, Senior Programme Officer ([email protected])Esteban Tromel, Senior Specialist, Disability ([email protected])Claire Hobden, Tech Specialist on Domestic and other vulnerable workers ([email protected])