Built for Kenyan teams, powered by pawa
PawaHR is a Kenyan payroll and HR platform that automates the heavy lifting — statutory deductions, payslips, compliance filings, and M-Pesa salary disbursement — so every employee is paid accurately and on time.
Payroll shouldn't feel this hard
Between PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, Affordable Housing Levy, filing deadlines, and manual records, HR teams spend too much time chasing numbers instead of supporting people. PawaHR was built to change that.
We combine deep local tax knowledge with modern technology to give businesses confidence in every payday.
Our vision
To power every Kenyan business with payroll and HR that just works — and become the engine behind every successful payday.
Our mission
To simplify Kenyan payroll and compliance. We automate PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, Affordable Housing Levy, and contractor payments so businesses can pay their people accurately and on time—every time.
Our values
The principles that guide how we build, support, and grow.
Accuracy Above All
The decimal point matters. Every deduction is verified meticulously, every time.
Local First, Global Standards
Kenyan compliance, world-class technology. We build for local regulations without compromising on quality.
Friction Fighters
We hunt down manual processes, outdated forms, and slow approvals — and we remove them.
Transparent by Default
Clear calculations, clear communication. No hidden fees, no confusing deductions.
Pawa Spirit
We bring energy and power to HR. We don't just process payroll; we power businesses.
Why "PawaHR"?
PawaHR is two names in one: Pawa and HR. "Pawa" traces its roots in Sheng — a Swahili-based street language spoken in Nairobi — where it means power. And HR? That's the work we do: payroll and HR for Kenyan businesses. Together, PawaHR gives you the power to pay on time, stay compliant, and focus on your people.
Bring pawa to your payrollQuestions, answered
Common questions about PawaHR and what we do.
PawaHR is two names in one: "Pawa" and "HR". "Pawa" traces its roots in Sheng — a Swahili-based street language spoken in Nairobi — where it means power. "HR" is the work we do: payroll and HR for Kenyan businesses. Together, it's the power to pay on time, stay compliant, and focus on your people.
Yes. PawaHR is built specifically for the Kenyan market. We focus on Kenyan statutory deductions — PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, and Affordable Housing Levy — and we're deeply familiar with local labour laws and filing requirements.
PawaHR is built for HR teams, finance managers, and founders who want payroll and compliance handled accurately without the manual headache. Whether you're a small team or a growing company, PawaHR scales with you.
Yes. PawaHR automates PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, and Affordable Housing Levy calculations and helps you stay on top of filings. We know compliance is non-negotiable, so accuracy is our first value.
Yes. PawaHR supports both full-time employees and contractors, so you can manage salaries and contractor payments from one place — accurately and on time.
You can book a demo or create an account directly on the website. We'll walk you through setup and help you migrate your existing payroll data if needed.