Are any Kenyan companies offering this perk?

This is not a perk but a pipe dream...at least for the next decade or two

In the NGO world, some cadre of staff (senior most SMT) are allowed what is called flexi time though are controlled by; (i) long ins and (ii) common shared hours. in Kenya, i have observed this in Swedish (4) and Australia (1) donor agencies.

It is not really a matter of being trusted...companies that do it want to cut costs in some way..for instance office space. I have see this work (american company) and usually there is a checklist that ensures nobody slacks around. For instance:
1) The homeworker must prove existence of a quiet work environment in their home..ergo a dedicated room, with a desk, phone and web connected computer with webcam
2) HR creates a precise, measurable workforce program that tracks tasks daily. You receive tasks in the morning and do submissions at regular intervals.
3) IT installs tracking software on your computer, with your consent. This software tracks when you have logged in and can show to an admin at any one time what you are doing on-screen. Some have policies about leaving your home desk unmanned (frequency and duration)

In all, it is beneficial because you avoid the commute. But it would be misleading to think you can look after a baby for instance and be productive in a well controlled home working system without help. Tracking can be strict, it would drive you up the wall or put you on a collision course with the bosses.

I don't know what company you are referring to here but this is not entirely true.

Its all a matter of trust because.

1. The company provides you with a laptop, docking station and monitor(s) to enable you to work.

2. No body has that time to come inspect your home to show that you have "office space" That's just a lie. The management trusts that you have enough space to place your equipment and whatever paper work you may require since you have agreed to WFH.

3. The company provides the equipment(just like the person in the office) and the software too. So your computer has limitations and capabilities to ensure that the work is safe.

4. You do not need webcams(although most laptops have one) Most IT guys will tell you that the webcam is the most dangerous tool to be hacked. Unless your job requires you to be seen(news presenters opinion givers, etc) Skype for business is enough. All meetings/webinars office phone calls can be cast on there.

5. All HR requires from you is that you do not violate the companies policies. No one has the time to "monitor" or watch what you are doing. Heck even the HR personel are working from home. Your time management records are approved by your direct boss.

6. I have not heard of tracking softwares. As is you do not need to be in your house if you are not in the office. You can go visit your friend and still work as long as you are working from the company provided laptop.

7. WFH policy does not mean your work from home entirely, your office space is still available in case you have an in-person meeting with colleagues. You will be moving around with your laptop as you wish. Some companies offer WFH days eg 2 days in a week as a privilege to reduce the commute time by employees.

8. There are "remote employees", who work from home almost entirely due to their nature of the job but these also have office space and usually join the rest when need be.


All you need is a reliable internet provider with WIFI.

Am sure companies like Microsoft, Cocacola, IBM, GE, most multinationals have WFH policies in the west, why not in Kenya?

Its never an issue of trust of employees but knowledge of the leader, in a knowledge based economy, or institution, not a "bean counting" organisation. Kenyan organisation are led by mediocre "kiosk/mama mboga thinking" sweatshop mentality, running exhibition stalls as side hustles, businesses meaning a matatu somewhere or building ngorofas, or supplying stationary to garment, loan sharking banks e.t.c no serious work, or innovative ideas for performance, ni ujinga tu wa Kupimia kondoo masaa. Its common knowledge 80% of employees dont contribute anything to the bittom line even if they report at 6am, most Kenyan organisation are the ones that are too mediocre and employers dunderheads. If someone has a clear vision, planning, m&e, reporting and communication, working from home is the best. I work from home, go to engineering machine workshops, spareshops, hardware shops, e.t.c when the need arises, as innovators and entrepreneur's you will not have much choice, am also willing in future to take up people who work from home, once am through that will be thousands of "performance contractors".

some policy in Kenya operate thus >>>>>>>>>>>


Where flexi working hours are authorised, there shall be core period of the work day when all employees are expected to be at work regardless of location, station and site. Generally 11 am to 4pm

In offices the bosses start screwing employees literally, even peoples wive, what for in a 20% interest rate country is my cute wifie putting on trousers for and running into a cooperate environment for, if they cant pay her to work from home, shes stupid, wall street jamaas don't agree to such, usiseme mambo na jews, ni ujinga tu, and this bosses, they are just bosses because of tribe, relatives e.t c not because they are "more intelligent" as they usually think.

From my experience with work from home, as long as the boss says "hello" to everyone in the company Whatsapp/Skype group in the morning, they imagine he's watching their moves the whole day and they work even more than usual with this imaginary fear that they might be being watched

Anyway, on a serious note, yes, you need strict monitoring in Kenya, but an office makes it easy for managers to slip into bad habits of using 'shortcuts' to monitor if work is being done well, like how long you stay in the office, dress code, looks etc. Work from home forces the managers to develop objective work measurements since they can't see the people, they can only see the work output.

A number of NGOs are quite flexible. Sometimes going to the office adds no value. Suppose am working on a proposal,how would going to the office help?