Kenya EOR · Provider Comparison
Looking for an Oyster Alternative in Kenya?
Oyster is a capable global employment platform with broad country coverage. The question for a company whose operations centre on Kenya is different: who actually holds your employees' contracts here, how quickly do Finance Act changes reach your payroll, and who stands next to you when an employment dispute reaches the ELRC? Those answers favour a local specialist.
Our pricing vs Oyster
Two Max Group EOR
$150 flat
per employee / month
Oyster (published pricing)
from ~USD 699
per employee / month
The Core Difference
Global Platform vs East Africa Specialist
The Oyster model
Oyster offers global hiring through a single platform, standardised contracts, automated onboarding, and a distributed compliance team maintaining rules for 180+ countries, with local employment often fulfilled through in-country partners.
The Two Max Group model
Two Max Group is the in-country entity. The company on your employees' contracts, the KRA and NSSF registrations, and the directors who answer for compliance are all the same Nairobi organisation. Kenya statutory changes, SHIF, Housing Levy, NSSF Year 4 rates, are applied to client payrolls the day they take effect.
When Oyster makes sense
- -Platform-based hiring across many countries is your primary need
- -You value standardised self-serve workflows over named advisory
- -Kenya headcount is minimal and incidental to a global programme
Not sure which model fits? Our guide on how to choose an employer of record in Kenya gives you ten due diligence questions to put to any provider, including us.
Side by Side
Two Max Group vs Oyster, Kenya
| Feature | Two Max Group | Oyster |
|---|---|---|
| Primary market focus | East Africa specialist (KE · UG · TZ · RW · ET) | Global platform (150+ countries) |
| Kenya compliance depth | 14 years on the ground, zero statutory penalties | Kenya rules managed within a global compliance function |
| Service model | Director-led advisory, named contact, 24hr response | Software platform with ticket-based support |
| Company registration in Kenya | Core service, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania | Not a core offering |
| Work permits & immigration | End-to-end permit management in-house | Mobility support varies by market |
| HR compliance audits | Included in advisory | Not included |
| Kenya statutory filing | PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, Housing Levy, zero penalties since 2011 | Filed via platform processes / local partners |
| EOR pricing | USD 150 flat per employee / month | Oyster published pricing (see note below) |
| East Africa expansion | Single accountable partner for 5 countries | Covered, but as part of a generalist catalogue |
* Oyster positioning and pricing (from ~USD 699 / employee / month) based on publicly available information at the time of writing; individual capabilities and quotes may vary. Two Max Group pricing confirmed in writing on request.
Our Track Record
14 years. Zero statutory penalties. Every Finance Act change applied on time.
385+
Companies served in Kenya
KES 0
Statutory penalties since 2011
100%
On-time payroll disbursement
24 hr
Director response commitment
Explore our employer of record services in Kenya or see the full cost breakdown in our Kenya EOR costs guide.
Common Questions
Oyster vs Two Max Group, FAQs
Is Two Max Group cheaper than Oyster for Kenya?+
Typically yes. Two Max Group's Kenya EOR is a flat USD 150 per employee per month, against Oyster's published EOR pricing from approximately USD 699 per employee per month. The gap widens with headcount, and our fee includes payroll filings, HR advisory, and leave administration with no per-incident charges. Ask for a written all-in comparison at your salaries.
Does Oyster employ staff directly in Kenya?+
Global platforms commonly fulfil employment in African markets through local in-country partners rather than their own entities. That is lawful, but it inserts a third party between you and your employees' legal employer. With Two Max Group, the entity you contract with is the entity on the employment contracts, one accountable organisation in Nairobi.
When is Oyster the better choice?+
When you need one platform across dozens of countries and Kenya is a small slice of that footprint, or when procurement mandates a single global vendor. If East Africa is your operating centre, or you need company registration, work permits, or labour relations support, a specialist covers more ground.
How long does switching from Oyster take?+
One payroll cycle in most cases. We re-contract employees with continuity of service, transfer statutory registrations to our entity, and parallel-run the first payroll. Employees experience no payment gap and keep their accrued terms.
Get a free Kenya EOR assessment
We will review your current setup and provide a like-for-like comparison at no cost.