How to write a CV in Kenya: format, sample and local tips

The Kenyan CV format

Use a reverse-chronological, single-column layout with standard headings. Keep it to one page if you have less than five years of experience and two pages if you have more. Kenyan employers commonly expect these sections: Personal details (contacts only), Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills, Professional Qualifications/Certifications, Languages and Referees.

Contact details: what to include and leave out

• Include: full name, phone (+254…), professional email, town (e.g. Nakuru, Kenya) and LinkedIn.
• Leave out: ID number, KRA PIN, date of birth, marital status, religion, tribe, home county and photo. These are not needed to assess your skills, and some employers prefer not to receive them. Provide official documents when asked during hiring.

Education on a Kenyan CV

List your highest qualification first: degree (with class, e.g. Second Class Upper), diploma or certificate, with institution and years. Recent graduates should also include their KCSE mean grade (and KCPE if early in your career). Professional exams such as CPA(K), CPS(K), CIFA and ATD from KASNEB, or memberships such as ICPAK, IHRM, KISM, EBK and LSK, should go in a Professional Qualifications or Certifications section with the year.

Work experience that impresses Kenyan recruiters

Recruiters want to see results. Write three to six bullets per job that start with action verbs and include numbers: customers served, sales growth, budgets managed, students taught, tenders handled or patients seen. Mention Kenyan systems and regulations where relevant, such as iTax, IFMIS, KenyaEMR, the Employment Act, PPADA or CBC, because these are the keywords recruiters search for.

• “Filed VAT, PAYE and withholding tax on iTax with zero penalties since 2023.”
• “Managed 30+ tenders a year worth KES 300M on IFMIS under PPADA 2015.”
• “Raised the Grade 6 Mathematics class mean by 15% through weekly assessments.”
• “Served 600+ bank customers a day as front-line security with zero incidents.”

Referees on a Kenyan CV

Most Kenyan employers expect two or three referees. Choose former supervisors, lecturers or senior colleagues who know your work, and ask their permission first. Include name, position, organisation and phone number (email if available). If space is short, write “Referees available on request”, but be ready to provide them immediately when contacted.

Applying for government and county jobs

Public Service Commission, county public service boards and many parastatals have specific application requirements, often an online form plus your CV, copies of certificates and identification. Senior and some other public positions in Kenya often ask for clearance documents connected to Chapter Six of the Constitution, which may include tax compliance, HELB, DCI (good conduct), CRB and EACC clearances. Read each advert carefully, prepare documents early, and keep your CV consistent with the details in your application form.

Where to apply and how to send your CV

• Company career pages and official public-service portals.
• Job boards and LinkedIn job listings.
• Recruitment agencies, who may ask for a Word version of your CV.
• Email applications: use a clear subject line, a short cover note in the email, and attach your CV as PDF named Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf.
• Be wary of anyone asking you to pay to be shortlisted or interviewed. Genuine employers do not charge applicants.

Kenyan CV checklist

• Phone number starts with +254 and is current.
• Professional title and summary match the advert.
• Achievements include numbers.
• KCSE grade included if you are early in your career.
• Professional registration (ICPAK, IHRM, TSC, NCK, etc.) listed where relevant.
• Two or three referees with phone numbers.
• No ID number, KRA PIN, date of birth or photo.
• Saved as PDF and checked on a phone.

Kenyan CV examples by career

You can start from any of these as a ready-made career sample in our builder and replace the details with your own.

• Teachers: include your TSC number, the grades and learning areas you teach, CBC experience and learner results.
• Clinical officers and nurses: COC or NCK licence with year, departments, patient volumes and programmes (HIV, MCH, nutrition).
• Accountants: CPA(K) or ACCA, ICPAK membership, iTax, IFRS and audit experience.
• Procurement: KISM membership, PPADA 2015, IFMIS and tender values.
• Drivers and security officers: licence classes, PSV badge or PSRA registration, years accident- or incident-free, certificate of good conduct.
• NGO roles: donors, budgets, beneficiaries reached and M&E tools.

Salary expectations and your Kenyan CV

Do not put your current salary or expected pay on your CV. Some Kenyan adverts ask applicants to state current and expected salary in the cover letter or application form; when they do, give a realistic range based on the role and market, and keep it out of the CV itself. That way your CV stays reusable for other applications.

Make your Kenyan CV in minutes

Build your CV on your phone with our free editor, start from a Kenyan career sample (teacher with TSC, clinical officer, accountant, driver, security officer, procurement officer and more), and check your live ATS score. Download a clean PDF for KES 20 and pay with M-Pesa. Unlocked CVs never expire.

Frequently asked questions