Started in Nairobi.
We built OctaHr for Kenyan payroll first, where rates move often and mistakes mean penalties. Getting one country exactly right is how we add the next.
Payroll for teams across Africa.
OctaHr calculates tax and statutory deductions for each country, gets payroll approved, and pays your people to their bank or mobile money in local currency.
No card required. Kenya supported. Nigeria and Ghana coming soon.
Built for the way African companies pay people.
Growing SMEs
Outgrowing the payroll spreadsheet, with casuals, shifts and overtime to pay.
Teams in several countries
Staff in Kenya, Nigeria or Ghana, each with its own rates and returns.
Companies hiring from abroad
Employ people in Africa through our EOR, without setting up a local entity.
Payroll bureaus
Run payroll for many clients, each with separate data and permissions.
Payroll across borders shouldn't need a spreadsheet per country.
- Each country changes its rates on its own schedule.
- A salary edit after approval goes out in the bank file unnoticed.
- Staff chase HR for payslips, leave balances and tax forms on WhatsApp.
- Auditors ask who changed what, and nobody can say.
How a pay run works
- 1Attendance closesHours, overtime and approved leave are pulled in.
- 2Payroll calculatesEarnings, allowances, deductions and statutory, per country.
- 3HR reviewsNew hires, exits and salary changes are flagged.
- 4Finance approvesThe run locks.
- 5Payouts go outBank and mobile money, in local currency.
- 6Payslips and returnsPayslips go to self-service. Statutory reports are ready to file.
What's included
| Module | Covers |
|---|---|
| Payroll | Monthly runs, overtime, allowances, deductions, final dues, approvals |
| Statutory | Per-country tax and contributions, versioned rates, filing exports |
| Payouts | Bank files and mobile money disbursement in local currency |
| EOR | Hire in countries where you have no entity — contracts, payroll, compliance |
| Employees | Profiles, auto staff numbers, contracts, salary and job history, probation |
| Leave | Applications, balances, accrual rules, leave types, approvals |
| Attendance | Clock-in/out, biometric devices, shifts, lateness |
| Recruitment | Requisitions, candidates, interviews, offer letters, onboarding |
| Performance | KPIs, goals, review cycles, appraisals |
| Discipline | Warnings, show-cause notices, hearings, suspensions |
| Exit | Resignation, clearance, asset return, exit interview, final dues |
| Documents | Per-employee file store, access-controlled |
| Reports | Payroll register, statutory, headcount, attrition, leave, overtime |
Rates change. Your payroll keeps up.
- We maintain statutory rates per country, each with an effective date.
- Past runs keep the rates they were calculated with.
- Returns export in the format each authority accepts (KRA, NSSF, SHA, …).
- Disciplinary records follow the legal process: notice, hearing, outcome.
- Data handled under Kenya's Data Protection Act 2019.
Payslips on their phone. Fewer questions for HR.
At self.octahr.africa employees can:
- Download payslips and annual tax forms (P9 in Kenya)
- Apply for leave and see their balance
- See attendance and overtime
- Update contact, next of kin and payout details — changes go to HR for approval
Hire in Africa without setting up a company.
OctaHr becomes the legal employer in-country. You choose the person and manage the work; we handle the contract, payroll, statutory and benefits.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Choose the person | You |
| Set the work and manage day to day | You |
| Employment contract under local law | OctaHr |
| Payroll and payslips | OctaHr |
| Tax and statutory contributions | OctaHr |
| Benefits | OctaHr |
Nairobi
Lagos
Accra
Everyone sees what they need, nothing more.
| Role | Can |
|---|---|
| HR Admin | Manage all HR records and policies |
| Payroll Officer | Prepare and run payroll |
| Finance | Approve and release payroll |
| Manager | Approve team leave, view direct reports |
| Employee | Self-service only |
| System Admin | Users, integrations, settings |
Salary data, handled like salary data.
Role-based access
Multi-factor sign-in
Encrypted in transit and at rest
Immutable audit log
Daily backups
Sessions expire when idle
Integrations
| Bank files | Live |
| M-Pesa | Live |
| MTN MoMo | Planned |
| OPay | Planned |
| Biometric devices | Live |
| Accounting exports (CSV/Excel) | Live |
| REST API | Planned |
Questions
Which countries do you support?
Kenya. Others on request.
How do rate changes reach my payroll?
We update them centrally with an effective date. Runs from that date use the new rate.
Can I import from Excel?
Yes — staff and opening balances from a template.
Can we pay via mobile money?
Yes: M-Pesa.
What if payroll needs a change after approval?
It's locked. Corrections go through a logged adjustment or authorized reversal.
Can I run several companies?
Yes, one login, separate data and permissions.
Do you handle casuals and shift workers?
Yes — daily and hourly rates, shifts, overtime.
Run your next payroll on OctaHr.
We'll import your staff and run one payroll alongside your current process so you can compare before switching.