Teaching Jobs in Kenya


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2 Teaching Jobs in Kenya
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At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservatio
See All 2 ProgramsA Guide to Teaching Abroad in Kenya
Locations
Kenya is located on the eastern coastline of Africa, featuring expansive beaches along the Indian Ocean and bordered by Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia to the south, west, and north. Roughly 45 million people live in Kenya, making it the seventh most populous country on the continent.
Nairobi, the country’s capital and largest city, is perennially one of the most popular destinations where to teach abroad in Kenya. Home to a metropolitan population of over 6.5 million people, an array of global organizations, and a major headquarters for the UN, Nairobi has for long been one of the largest and most influential cities in all of Africa.
Mombasa, the second largest city in the country, is another common destination where to teach abroad in Kenya. A coastal city with one of the largest ports in Africa, Mombasa is a very popular travel destination because of its sprawling beaches, lively atmosphere, and rich history as an important center of African commerce and culture.
Other potential destinations where you might look to teach abroad in Kenya include smaller cities such as Nakuru and Eldoret. Many educators also seek out positions teaching in Kenya’s rural areas, where schools are often understaffed and resources less accessible. Teaching abroad in a Kenyan village will understandably be much different from city life, and both carry the potential to be life-changing experiences!
Teaching Jobs in Kenya
There are some 70 languages spoken among the Kenyan population, the major two of which are English and Swahili. While English is the national language of education in Kenya, Swahili is the more commonly spoken native language among the uneducated population (i.e. young children or adult learners), so there is still a fairly large market for teaching English as a second language. Generally you will expect to possess a TEFL or TESOL certification in order to be considered for one of these positions.
International educators can look for either paid or volunteer positions to teach abroad in Kenya. The former tend to be available in major cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa where there are a considerable amount of international and private schools which look to hire from overseas, while the latter are more common in rural areas which lack the resources to pay foreign teachers.
In any case, because English is traditionally the medium of education in Kenya, international educators can also benefit from the option to branch out past ESL positions to teach other subjects such as science and math. You will generally be expected to hold a relevant university degree in order to teach abroad in Kenya, and having prior classroom experience will greatly enhance your appeal as a candidate as well.
Salaries & Costs
Because it is still developing, Kenya remains a fairly affordable destination for many international educators. In a paid position you will generally earn a salary or stipend which covers your basic costs of living, along a little spending money. Some volunteer positions will alternatively offer to provide for your housing and meals as well. The local currency in Kenya is Kenyan shilling, which trades at about 100 KES to $1 USD.
Accommodation & Visas
Available accommodations while you teach abroad in Kenya will also differ markedly between urban and rural settings. Living in a city, most international teachers choose to find their own apartment, or else look to rent out a single room in a flat. In rural areas, group living situations and homestays are the more common options.
Kenya uses an eVisa system for teachers coming from most countries around the world. Your teach abroad organization or host employers will usually walk you through the process of obtaining the proper documentation. You can also check out the Kenyan Embassy for more information regarding your individual situation.
Benefits & Challenges
Push Yourself. Whether or not your ultimate career ambitions lay in education, taking the journey to teach abroad in Kenya will prove an incredible growth experience, as you dive headfirst into a challenging new cultural context in a major East African country.
Adventure Travel. On top of the everyday adventure of teaching in a new country, you should also take the time to explore the natural beauty of Kenya, which extends from the African Great Lakes to Mount Kenya to the Indian Ocean and everywhere in between.
Learn by Teaching. While you will be a teacher by trade while in Kenya, odds are that you will learn more from the experience than you could ever compartmentalize in a classroom setting. Go out and live life!
Latest Program Reviews
HIGHLY recommend volunteering with IVHQ
August 09, 2026by: Raquel Paz Bergia - SpainProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
It was very easy to go through the application process, complete all the steps, and be ready to volunteer in Costa Rica. All the support we received throughout the process made sure that we felt safe, prepared, and were making an impact on the local community. I would highly recommend IVHQ, and hope to do future volunteer missions with them.
An unforgettable experience in Ecuador
August 08, 2026by: Marie-Hélène Lessard - CanadaProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
I had an amazing experience with International Volunteer HQ in Ecuador. Everything was well organized from the beginning, and I felt supported throughout the entire program. The local team was welcoming, helpful, and always available when needed. I especially appreciated the opportunity to immerse myself in the local culture, meet wonderful people, and contribute through volunteering. It was an unforgettable experience, and I would definitely recommend IVHQ to anyone looking for a meaningful experience abroad.
Teaching in Hua Hin
May 16, 2026by: Marcos Mendez - SpainProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
My experience in Hua Hin teaching children was truly amazing. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and supported by a wonderful team. Special thanks to Hannah Yule, Tukkie Khudseesai, and Noah, the coordinator of my teaching team, who made the experience even more enjoyable and well organized. Teaching the children was incredibly rewarding, and the environment was positive, friendly, and motivating every day. The accommodation provided was very comfortable, and the food was also excellent throughout my stay. Overall, this was a memorable and enriching experience that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in volunteering and teaching in Hua Hin.
Three weeks volunteering in Siem Reap
August 11, 2025by: Olivia Aurora Lamassa - SwitzerlandProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
I spent three weeks volunteering at Salariin Kampuchea Learning Center in Siem Reap, where I helped teach English to younger students and supported the development of their social media presence. It was one of the most enriching experiences I’ve ever had. Some days were more challenging than others—adapting to a new environment and finding ways to communicate across cultures. But what I’ll carry with me, more than anything, is the deep sense of connection I felt with the people. I can confidently say I’ve grown and learned so much, and that’s something I’ll always be grateful for. Living and working within the local community gave me a complete perspective shift. I was struck by their warmth and generosity, and the quiet strength with which they face life. From the very beginning, I felt welcomed. The children, the staff, and my host family made me feel included from the start, making it easy to feel at home throughout my time there
The most wholesome experience
March 26, 2025by: Ayshe Z Mercan - United KingdomProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
The programme insured that whilst getting my teaching experience, I learnt loads about the history of the children in this area. It has been the most eye opening experience and I am so grateful to have been part of it, I will be back!! The team were super supportive and ensured we were safe at all times. This was my first time solo travelling and I felt confident to flourish and be adventurous in the beautiful South Africa!

Teaching English in Cartagena Colombia
January 09, 2020by: Luke Psotka - CanadaProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
I volunteered along with my girlfriend to teach English at Emerging Voices in Cartagena, Colombia from Nov-Dec of 2019. The experience overall was amazing. We got to work with lots of different groups of people, from young children living in a poor neighborhood to teenagers learning skills related to the hospitality industry, to adults whose English was very good, but they just lacked the confidence to use it. I also enjoyed the ability to visit other projects at Emerging Voices such as the project to feed and spend time with the homeless and the sports development project that worked with kids living in a Drug Rehabilitation Centre. One of the highlights was definitely meeting all of the other volunteers. Programs like these bring out great people and we had a ton of fun hanging out with people coming from all over North America. My other highlight was definitely the food! Sophie was our local Colombian chef and she made the most amazing meals every day. I was always excited for mealtime! She also kept the house impeccably clean and even made our beds every day; what an amazing lady! I also enjoyed working with Monica who is the program owner. She is a very inspiring woman and a kind soul. We happened to be there during a transitional time for Emerging Voice so that meant we had lots of different volunteers, but also lots of different coordinators. We had three different teaching coordinators during our 4-week stay. One consistent throughout though was Lao. He worked with the childcare program, but he was the only constant in the volunteer house for the entire time that we were there and he made our experience that much better with his kindness and light-hearted nature. The last thing that I really enjoyed was the location of the volunteer house. It was located in the safe neighborhood of Crespo; it was only a 5-minute walk to the beach and only a 10-minute cab to downtown so it was truly perfect! All in it was an amazing experience and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to give back and also push themselves a little out of their comfort zone!


2 weeks teaching in Cape Town
January 25, 2019by: Ralph Kamar - LebanonProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
I volunteered in the Teaching Program with IVHQ in Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa for 2 weeks with my girlfriend. For the accommodation, I was placed with 4 other boys in the room where I had my own bed and closet space. A girls room was next to us and each of the boys and girls had separate bathrooms. Also a kitchen and common living room were available. On the weekdays, we were given 3 meals per day from breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food was carbohydrate heavy and sufficient for the stay as enough food was available for everyone with specific diet requirements cooked accordingly upon request. The housekeeper was very polite as well. For a volunteering program, it was really more than you need and a great place to stay. For the volunteering program, we were placed in Steenberg Primary School assisting a teacher with 30 Grade R kids. The kids were very cute and super fun as they are hyper all the time. We would help them with the class assignment, play with them in the playground, and assess them basic color matching and mathematics numbering exercises. The classroom had the basic amenities needed for the school year. We even left our mark with a painting on the classroom wall! It was an amazing experience and one that we will definitely go through again. A driver from the program picked us up and dropped us off back to the accommodation every school day. He was usually always on time. For the city, there are abundant activities to choose from. We were lucky to have done shark cage diving, a safari, and skydiving as main attractions. Other activities were hiking Table Mountain through the Skeleton Gorge trail, visiting the beautiful city of Cape Town and exploring it, surfing, visiting Boulders Beach where penguins are found and the most South Western point of the African continent in Cape of Good Hope as well as many other activities. This experience is truly one that will be missed and I hope to have a similar one next time!
Hi Ralph, it is great to hear from you and that you really enjoyed your time in South Africa. It is always pleasing to hear that you got along with the children so well and took part on some awesome tourist activities! Thanks for volunteering with IVHQ! Acacia - IVHQ Program Manager.
Amazing time volunteering in Palawan
November 10, 2018by: Colin Jansen - NetherlandsProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
I've had an amazing time volunteering with IVHQ (and the green lion) for two weeks in the Philippines. The location is remote (2h from Puerto Princess City), but that adds to the experience of disconnecting completely and helping the local community of Tigman Village. There are a few different programs, and therefore quite some other volunteers - nice to meet people for sure. I've taught English, Maths and Science at the local school in Tigman Village, at grades between 2 - 6. The kids are great; they love your attention and are eager to learn.
Hey Colin, thanks for taking the time to provide your review of the Philippines program. It's awesome to hear you embraced the remoteness of the program and enjoyed disconnecting from the world. I hope you can volunteer with IVHQ again in the future. Sean - IVHQ Program Manager.
Special needs in Kenya
August 10, 2018by: Kim Clifton - United StatesProgram: Volunteer and Teach in Kenya
I had a wonderful experience in Kenya with IVHQ. I was there for four weeks and volunteered with the special needs program. While it's not required on the website or through IVHQ to have experience, I highly suggest only doing the special needs program if you do as there isn't specific training for working with kids with special needs during orientation and some of the placements are very challenging. The classroom I taught in had 43 students with moderate to intensive special needs and only two teachers! I am a special education teacher, so while I was definitely overwhelmed the first day, I was able to jump in and adapt quickly. Others who were in the special needs program without any prior experience were very overwhelmed and ended up switching placements. There isn't any training as it relates to teaching during orientation. Overall my time with IVHQ was incredible! My placement was AMAZING and the kids absolutely stole my heart! I still keep in touch with the teacher at the school as well as others I met in Kenya. The staff on site in Kenya were so kind, personable and easy to reach for any sort of help. I would definitely travel with IVHQ again.
Fun & love in Antigua, Guatemala
June 07, 2018by: Shannon V - United StatesProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
I was super nervous before going on my solo adventure to Antigua, Guatemala. However, as soon as I arrived I felt anxiously excited and yet still very peaceful. Everyone involved in the program was nice and welcoming. They set me up in a great home with great people and I really enjoyed my project. I learned so much about myself and really grew as an independent person. I can't wait to go on another trip with IVHQ!



We very much appreciate you sharing this review about your time in Guatemala. It was nice to read that you felt so welcomed on your solo adventure and that you were set up in a great homestay with friendly people! Also, thank you for your suggestions on how we could improve the program, we certainly do our best but love volunteer's insights as this helps us make our programs even better! Once again thank you for the awesome review and just as you can't wait to go on another IVHQ volunteer trip, we can't wait to have you join us again! ^Aydan - IVHQ Guatemala Program Manager
Teaching English
April 04, 2018by: Karin Layton - CanadaProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
I can not say enough about this experience. The Green Lion organization that I worked with through IVHQ were incredible. The placement was great, small village that was very accepting of foreigners, students that were hard to leave, and our residence was relaxing with incredible food. I would highly recommend both IVHQ and The Green Lion!
Hi Karin, it's great to hear you enjoyed your time in Laos and the true Laotian experience you receive there! We're looking forward to having you return to Laos or maybe one of our other destinations! ^Will - IVHQ Laos Program Manager
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Kimberly Duncan
International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]
I had always wanted to go to Africa but wasn't sure about the safety of traveling alone, or even where to start planning.
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