Kenya’s fisheries sector is hiring at the very top. The Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS) has opened 11 senior vacancies — three Director of Fisheries posts and eight Deputy Director of Fisheries posts — and applications close on 17 November 2026. These are not entry-level openings: both grades demand 15 years of relevant experience, and the Director’s basic salary tops Ksh 304,768 per month, plus house and commuter allowances.
If you are a senior fisheries professional with a record in policy, enforcement, quality assurance or capture fisheries management, this is one of the biggest government fisheries recruitment rounds in East Africa this year. Here is everything you need to know — the posts, the pay, the eligibility rules, and exactly how to apply before the deadline.
The vacancies at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Employer | Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS), a state corporation established under the Fisheries Management and Development Act |
| Total posts | 11 — 3 Directors + 8 Deputy Directors |
| Director vacancy ref | KeFS/HR/01/26 — Job Group KF2 |
| Deputy Director vacancy ref | KeFS/HR/02/26 — Job Group KF3 |
| Workstation | Directors: KeFS Headquarters, Nairobi. Deputy Directors: any KeFS regional office |
| Application deadline | 17 November 2026 (official KeFS careers listing: 17 November 2026, 23:59) |
| How to apply | Email to recruitment@kefs.go.ke or hand-deliver to KeFS Headquarters, SHA Building, 13th Floor, Ragati Road, Nairobi |
| Form | Kenya Fisheries Service Application for Employment Form, Version 2026 (download from kefs.go.ke) |
The 11 posts, broken down
Director of Fisheries — 3 posts (KF2)
The three Director posts cover the three pillars of KeFS’s mandate, each on a five-year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance:
- Director of Fisheries — Capture Fisheries: leading the management of Kenya’s capture fisheries, from inland lakes to the Indian Ocean coast.
- Director of Fisheries — Fish Quality, Safety & Trade: overseeing fish safety and quality standards, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, health certification for exports, and the regulation of fish handling, landing, transport, processing and trade.
- Director of Fisheries — Fisheries Compliance & Enforcement: running monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) systems and the enforcement arm that keeps Kenya’s fisheries legal and sustainable.
The quality-and-trade brief shows how wide the job is: the holder develops national monitoring plans for contaminants, harmonises sampling protocols, coordinates fish quality assurance operations, approves fishery enterprises, manages fish and fishery product imports, and works with government agencies and the private sector on fish safety and trade.
Deputy Director of Fisheries — 8 posts (KF3)
The eight Deputy Director posts are offered on permanent and pensionable terms — the most secure form of public appointment in Kenya. Deputies work from any KeFS regional office and carry a broad portfolio: initiating fisheries policies, programmes and strategies; evaluating MCS systems; developing transboundary fisheries management plans; monitoring regional and international fisheries agreements; coordinating extension services; promoting fish marketing and value addition; and harmonising fisheries technical training with counties and related institutions.
Pay and benefits
| Post | Basic salary (per month) | House allowance | Commuter allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director of Fisheries (KF2) | Ksh 233,261 – 304,768 | Ksh 60,000 | Ksh 20,000 (or official transport) |
| Deputy Director of Fisheries (KF3) | Ksh 167,812 – 251,655 | Ksh 50,000 | Ksh 16,000 |
Both grades also get 30 days of annual leave per year and medical benefits under the KeFS medical scheme. Allowances are stated as per prevailing government rates, so the figures above are the advertised rates, not a guaranteed lifetime package. Note carefully: these are Kenyan shilling (Ksh) monthly figures — the Director’s top basic salary of Ksh 304,768 is the headline number, but the allowances on top of it are what make the total package competitive for senior public service.
Who can apply? Eligibility in detail
Director of Fisheries (KF2)
- Experience: a cumulative 15 years of relevant work experience, at least 5 of them at the level of Assistant Director or above, or in a comparable position.
- Education: a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries, Biological Sciences, Natural Resource Management, Aquatic Sciences, Zoology, Biochemistry, Food Science and Technology, Environmental Science, Physical Sciences, or an equivalent from a recognised institution — plus a Master’s degree in a related field.
- Leadership training: a Strategic Leadership Development Programme from a recognised institution.
- Knowledge: broad knowledge of fisheries development and management policies, the Fisheries Management and Development Act and related Acts, and national and international fisheries agreements, conventions, protocols and the law of the sea.
- Other requirements: a certificate in computer applications, shown competence in planning and implementing fisheries projects and programmes, and demonstrated professional and managerial capability.
Deputy Director of Fisheries (KF3)
- Experience: a cumulative 15 years of relevant work experience, at least 3 of them at the level of Assistant Director of Fisheries or in a comparable position.
- Education: a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries, Biological Sciences, Natural Resource Management, Aquatic Sciences, Biochemistry, Food Science and Technology, Environmental Science, Physical Sciences, or an equivalent from a recognised institution. A Master’s degree in a related field is an added advantage.
- Leadership training: a Strategic Leadership Development Programme from a recognised institution.
- Knowledge: fisheries development and management policies, the Fisheries Management and Development Act and other related statutes and international conventions.
- Other requirements: a certificate in computer applications, competence in planning and implementing fisheries projects and programmes, and demonstrated professional and managerial capability.
The difference between the two grades is subtle but decisive: Directors need a Master’s degree as a minimum and five years at Assistant Director level or above, while Deputy Directors need three years at that level and treat a Master’s as an advantage. If you hold 15 years’ experience but only three at senior level, the Deputy Director grade is your realistic target — do not waste the round by applying a grade above your record.
How to apply, step by step
- Download the form: visit the Kenya Fisheries Service website (kefs.go.ke), go to the Careers section, and download the Kenya Fisheries Service Application for Employment Form, Version 2026, plus the detailed job indents for both vacancy references.
- Fill the form completely and clearly state the exact position you are applying for — Director of Fisheries (with the specific area, e.g. Capture Fisheries) or Deputy Director of Fisheries — quoting the vacancy reference (KeFS/HR/01/26 or KeFS/HR/02/26).
- Write a cover letter and prepare a curriculum vitae that showcases your experience, key competencies and skills against the requirements above.
- Attach the supporting documents: copies of your National ID, academic certificates and transcripts, professional certificates, testimonials and CV.
- Address the application to: The Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Kenya Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 48511-00100, Nairobi.
- Submit by 17 November 2026 — either by email to recruitment@kefs.go.ke or by hand delivery to KeFS Headquarters, SHA Building, 13th Floor, Ragati Road, Nairobi.
- Keep proof of submission. If emailing, keep the sent-mail record; if hand-delivering, keep the stamped receipt. The deadline is the deadline — late applications are not entertained in Kenyan public-service recruitment.
Five things applicants get wrong
- Canvassing disqualifies you. KeFS states it plainly: canvassing in any form will lead to automatic disqualification. Do not lobby board members or officers about your application.
- Only shortlisted candidates are contacted. If you hear nothing, you were not shortlisted — there is no individual feedback round.
- Shortlisted candidates must produce originals. Expect to show original academic and professional certificates and transcripts, a letter of recognition of qualifications from the Commission for University Education (for degrees from foreign universities), your National ID, a valid Police Clearance Certificate, a Tax Compliance Certificate, HELB clearance, EACC clearance and a certificate from a recognised Credit Reference Bureau. Start gathering these now, not after shortlisting.
- The posts are open to Kenyan citizens. KeFS states it avails equal employment opportunities to Kenyan citizens — international readers should treat this as a Kenya-citizen recruitment unless the live listing says otherwise.
- State the position clearly. Applications that do not clearly state the position applied for risk being set aside before assessment even begins.
Why these jobs matter beyond the salary
KeFS is the body charged with conserving, managing and developing Kenya’s fisheries and aquaculture resources — a sector that feeds millions and supports coastal and lakeside livelihoods from Lake Victoria to the Indian Ocean. Its directors shape capture-fisheries policy, the safety of fish on domestic and export markets, and the enforcement systems that decide whether Kenya’s waters are fished sustainably or plundered. For a senior fisheries professional, a Director or Deputy Director chair at KeFS is not just a pay rise; it is a seat at the table where East Africa’s fisheries rules are written.
That is also why the bar is set at 15 years. These posts are designed for people who have already run programmes, negotiated with counties and international partners, and survived the politics of a shared resource. If that is your record, the 17 November deadline is your window — and it is only 13 days away.
Frequently asked questions
How many posts are open? Eleven in total: 3 Directors (KF2) and 8 Deputy Directors (KF3).
What is the last date to apply? 17 November 2026, per the official KeFS careers listing and the advertised job indents.
Can I apply by email? Yes — email your completed Form (Version 2026), cover letter and CV to recruitment@kefs.go.ke, or hand-deliver to KeFS Headquarters, SHA Building, 13th Floor, Ragati Road, Nairobi.
Are the Director posts permanent? No — Directors serve a five-year contract, renewable on satisfactory performance. Deputy Directors are permanent and pensionable.
Do I need a Master’s degree for Deputy Director? No — a Bachelor’s degree is the minimum, and a Master’s is an added advantage. Directors, by contrast, must hold a Master’s.
Where do I get the application form? From the Kenya Fisheries Service website (kefs.go.ke), Careers section — the Application for Employment Form, Version 2026.
Related fisheries jobs on Fisheries India
- Toothfish Scientist Wanted: £49,590, Falklands, Nov 13 — a PhD-level fisheries scientist post in the Falkland Islands, closing 13 November 2026.
- Norway Wants a Fish-Stock Scientist — Apply by Nov 8 — a quantitative stock-assessment scientist post at Norway’s Institute of Marine Research, Bergen.
- CMFRI Hiring 5 Climate YPs: Apply by Nov 6! — five Young Professional posts under ICAR-CMFRI’s NICRA project at Kochi.
Fact-check note: Details in this post were verified on 4 November 2026 against the official Kenya Fisheries Service careers listing (vacancy references KeFS/HR/01/26 and KeFS/HR/02/26, deadline 17 November 2026), the published job indents as republished by MyJobMag (salaries, allowances, experience and qualification requirements for both grades), and corroborating coverage by The Star and The Standard. The KeFS website itself was slow to respond during the live check, so readers should confirm the live listing on kefs.go.ke before applying — if any detail here differs from the live listing, the live listing governs. The images in this post are illustrations.