How to hire a nanny or house help safely in Kenya
Last updated 22 July 2026
Letting someone into your home and around your children or elderly relatives is one of the most trust-sensitive decisions you make. A referral is not enough on its own. This guide covers what to verify before you hire a nanny, house help or domestic worker in Kenya, the warning signs to watch for, and how to do it lawfully with the person’s consent.
What to verify before you hire
- Identity — confirm the national ID is genuine and matches the person (IPRS).
- Criminal record — a Certificate of Good Conduct from the DCI.
- References — structured feedback from previous employers.
- Where relevant, phone and online presence for anything that contradicts their story.
Red flags to watch for
- Reluctance to share an ID or agree to a background check.
- References that cannot be reached or do not check out.
- Gaps in their story, or details that keep changing.
- Pressure to start immediately with no verification.
Do it with consent
Checking someone should be consent-led and lawful under the Data Protection Act. A trustworthy candidate will agree to be verified. Verifisha sends a clear consent request and stores the approval, so you protect both your family and their rights.
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How to run a safe hire, step by step
- 1
Create a free account
Sign up for Verifisha — no subscription, pay per check.
- 2
Send a consent request
The candidate approves the checks before anything runs. Their approval is stored as evidence.
- 3
Verify identity and conduct
Confirm the ID against IPRS and request a Certificate of Good Conduct, so you know who they are and their criminal-record status.
- 4
Collect references
Send structured reference requests to previous employers and review the responses.
- 5
Decide with a clear record
Review the results together in one profile, and keep the evidence. The verified profile can be reused if they move between families, with consent.
For agencies placing domestic workers
If you place nannies or house helps, verifying every worker once and sharing a consent-based profile with families builds trust and saves everyone repeating checks. It is also a strong differentiator for a placement agency.
Simple safety habits
- Always meet in person and confirm the ID matches.
- Never pay a placement fee before verifying.
- Keep the consent record and check results.
- Re-verify for a new role rather than assuming a past check still stands.
This guide is general safety information, not legal advice. Verifying another person must be consent-led and for a lawful purpose under the Data Protection Act.
Verifying someone else?
Verifisha brings identity, business, CRB, AML and reference checks together — with consent built in — so you get the full picture in one place.
No subscription · pay per check · consent-led & ODPC-aligned
Or get verified yourself
It is not only for checking other people — verify your own identity and build a vetted, shareable trust profile you can send to employers, landlords or partners. Get verified once and reuse it everywhere, with consent.
Frequently asked questions
How do I run a background check on a nanny or house help in Kenya?
Create a free Verifisha account, get the candidate’s consent, then verify their identity (IPRS), request a Certificate of Good Conduct and collect references — all in one profile with the consent stored as evidence.
What should I check before hiring a house help?
At minimum, confirm their identity is genuine, check their criminal-record status with a Certificate of Good Conduct, and speak to previous employers through structured reference checks.
Is it legal to background-check a domestic worker?
Yes, when it is consent-led and for a lawful purpose. Verifisha requests the person’s consent before any check runs and stores that approval, in line with the Data Protection Act.
How much does it cost?
There is no subscription — you pay per check, so you only pay for the checks you actually run.
Verify anyone — or get verified yourself.
Run consent-led KYC, KYB, AML, CRB and background checks in one place — or build your own verified, shareable trust profile for jobs, rentals and deals. Trust made simple, for Kenya and Africa.