The available Catering services in Kenya offer job opportunities and stability for well skilled workers who are dedicated to service. The catering role in Kenya includes caterer or catering manager, chef or cook, Kitchen steward or crew, waitstaff or server and outside caterers, all these role can be seen in schools, hospitals, hotels, and event companies.
It’s required for caterer to have a good educational background such as a diploma or certificate in food and beverage production, catering, or hospitality management from recognized institutions like Utalii College or technical polytechnics. It’s mandatory for caterer to have a valid Food Handler’s Certificate which is medical check. Also having a strong communication skills, time management, team leadership, and proficiency in, or knowledge of, food safety standards (HACCP) is very important.
There are benefits as well as challenges caterers face especially outside caterers which includes poor planning, difficult client payments, inadequate equipment, and the impact of adverse weather conditions on events. In this article we will be looking at current catering job positions available in Kenya, qualification and challenges.
Latest Jobs Opening in Kenya Catering Industry
1. Catering Relief Instructor
- Employer: Department of Justice
- Location: Kenya
- via LinkedIn
- Job Type: Full-time
- Salary: VO3WK, $89,654 to $97,144 plus 12% superannuation (POA)
- Position number: Pool Ref 232209
- Work type: Fixed Term – Permanent
- Closing date: 11th of February, 2026. 4:30 PM
2. Principal Cateress
- Employer: Kenya Medical Research – KEMRI
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- via Great Kenyan Jobs
- Job Type: Full-time
- Work Hours: 8
- Experience in Months: 96
- Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
- Experience: 1 years of working experience, 3 years of it should be in supervisory role.
- Experience: 2-3 years Diploma in Institutional Management, Catering and Accommodation Management, Hospitality Management, and Technology in Hotel and Restaurant management.
3. Remote Catering Operations Director
- Employer: WhatJobs Direct
- Location: Nyeri and Garissa, Kenya
- via WhatJobs
- Job Type: Full-time
- Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in the catering industry, with at least 4 years in a senior management or directorial role
4. Lead Catering Operations Manager
- Employer: WhatJobs Direct
- Location: Kenya
- via WhatJobs
- Job Type: Full-time
- Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Experience: Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in catering operations management.
5. Head Catering Operations – Remote
- Employer: WhatJobs Direct
- Location: Meru, Kenya
- via WhatJobs
- Job Type: Full-time
- Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Culinary Arts, or a related field.
- Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in the catering or hospitality industry, with at least 3 years in a senior management or leadership role.
Catering Qualification/ Skills Required in Kenya
1. For all food and beverages production or service caterers, it’s required to have an Artisan or KCPE – D+ certification. For catering and accomodations management role, a diploma with C- grade and above is often required and this course usually take about 2 to 3 years.
2. Hotel and management role usually require a Bachelor’s degrees with C+ and above in Hotel and Hospitality Management. It’s also required for all caterers to have Levels 3-6 TVET-CDACC and having NITA courses is also beneficial.
3. Having culinary skills is an essential skills in the catering industry. All caterers must have proficiency in food preparation, cooking techniques, pastry, and bakery.
4. It’s essential to strictly adhere to food safety standards and sanitation. Also, all caterers must have a strong communication and interpersonal skills in other to be able to handle client.
5. Caterers should also possess management skills. They must be able to plan, cost and controls inventory menu. Also have operational skill like knowledge of front office, housekeeping, and event management is very important.
6. It’s also mandatory for a caterers to have a medical check-up, which is the food handler’s certificate from local authorities.
7. Caterers must have previous food and beverage experience of not less than 3-6 months is mostly required for entry-level roles.
8. In Kenya, it is required that caterers with little or no experience must start with an Industrial attachment or training.
Average Salary For Caterers in Kenya
Generally, a caterers in Kenya can earn an average salary of KSh 32,000 per month, caterers with little or no experience can typically earn KSh 20,000 per month while general caterer with experience can earn around KSh 60,000 per month.
A specialized chef can earn between KSh 30,000 and KSh 120,000+ per month while a mid-level caterers with 3 to 9 years of experience can earn around KSh 32,000 to KSh 42,000 monthly. A tourism and gastronomy caterer can earn between KSh 20,291 and KSh 60,620 per month.
A waitress or waiter can earn KES 20,000 to KES 35,000 per month. The salary of a caterers are determined by location, employers, and skills.
Challenges Faced by Caterers in Kenya
Caterers in Kenya encounter lot of challenges which are categorize under operational and logistics, food safety and health compliance issues, financial and business challenges, human resource issues and other external issues and they include:
1. Logistical Failures: it is usually challenging to transport food and various cooking utensils or equipment to a remote or unprepared location. These alone can cause for spoilage or delay in food distribution services.
2. Inadequate Infrastructure: Many venues lack proper kitchen facilities such as running water, electricity, or waste bin which has made it difficult to maintain proper sanitation and food preparations.
3. Food Contamination Risks: When there’s poor infrastructures, catering might find it difficult to manage hygiene which can lead to high food contamination risk. There’s high risk of food contamination when flies or other insect perch on the food or whatever there’s improper handling of food or food items.
4. Health Hazards: Caterers also challenges like the cases of food poisoning, such as cholera and diarrhea that’s usually linked to outside catering services.
5. Strict Regulatory Requirements: It’s also challenging for Caterers to strictly adhere to complex health and safety regulations.
6. High Operating Costs: The cost of food items is increasing daily. Also there’s steady increase in logistics, the cost of transporting staff and food equipment can be very expensive and challenging.
7. Unrealistic Client Expectations: Some customer or client would want high quality service to be delivered to them at a very low and unrealistic price.
8. Intense Competition: This is another challenges that Caterers face in the catering industry. Caterers might face intensed competition from other catering services, including in-house catering at venues.
9. Physical and Mental Exhaustion: All caterers face physical and mental exhaustion due to the labor-intensive nature of the job which includes involving lifting heavy equipment and long hours leading to physical burnout.
10. Weather Conditions: This is another big challenges that Caterers face. Rainy and windy weather can negatively impact, or even halt, outdoor service.
Conclusion
Catering Jobs in Kenya provides opportunities for employment especially for caterer in the hospitality or service sector. Catering industry are in need of skilled and trained workers, who can adapt to, and manage the industry. High level position like air caterers would require a bachelor’s degree or advanced diploma in hospitality alongside with HACCP certification. To succeed as a caterers in Kenya, you must plan and communicate effectively, get trained continuously, ensure profitability and food safety for customer satisfaction.
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