CV Format for Kenya (2026): A Complete Guide with Examples

The best CV format for Kenya in 2026 is a clean, reverse-chronological CV of no more than two pages. Put your contact details, a short profile, work experience, education, skills and referees in that order, using one simple font and no tables or photos.

That is the short answer. Below is the detail, section by section, with what Kenyan employers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) actually look for.

The standard section order

Most recruiters in Kenya scan a CV in under a minute. A predictable order helps them find what they need fast.

1. Contact details – name, phone number, professional email, town or county, and a LinkedIn link if you have one.
2. Professional profile – three to four lines on who you are, your strongest skills and the job you want.
3. Work experience – most recent job first. Job title, employer, location, dates (month and year), then bullet points.
4. Education – highest qualification first. Degree or diploma, institution, year. Add KCSE only if you are early in your career or the advert asks for it.
5. Professional certifications – CPA, CIPS, ICDL, nursing licence and similar.
6. Skills – technical and job-specific skills first, then languages and soft skills.
7. Referees – usually three. See our guide on referees on a CV.

If you are a fresh graduate with little work experience, move education above experience. Our CV for fresh graduates guide shows how.

How long should a CV be in Kenya?

Two pages is the norm. One page is fine for school leavers and fresh graduates. Three pages is only acceptable for senior roles, academic posts or technical jobs with long project lists.

If your CV is longer than two pages, cut older roles to one line each. Remove duties that every person in that role does. Keep what proves results.

Fonts, spacing and layout

Use one clear font throughout. Safe choices are Calibri, Arial, Garamond or Cambria.

• Body text: 10.5 to 12 point.
• Headings: 13 to 16 point, bold.
• Margins: about 2 cm on all sides.
• Line spacing: single, with a small space between sections.
• Colour: black text. A single dark accent colour for headings is fine.

Avoid two-column templates, text boxes, icons and skill "bars". They look nice on screen but many ATS tools read them in the wrong order or skip them. Our ATS-friendly CV guide explains why.

File type and file name

Send a PDF unless the advert asks for Word. PDF keeps your layout the same on every phone and laptop.

Name the file clearly, for example Jane-Wanjiku-CV-Accountant.pdf. Never send CV final final 2.pdf.

What NOT to include on a Kenyan CV

Many Kenyan CVs still carry personal details that employers do not need. Some of them can even expose you to bias or fraud. Leave these out unless the advert specifically asks:

Some government and county adverts ask for an ID number on the application form itself. That is fine. Fill the form as instructed, but keep it off the CV you send to private employers.

Writing your experience bullet points

Each bullet should start with an action verb and, where possible, show a result. Compare these:

• Weak: Responsible for sales in Nakuru.
• Strong: Grew monthly sales in Nakuru by 30% in one year by opening 12 new retail accounts.

Use numbers you can defend at an interview: money in KES, percentages, number of clients, students, patients or reports. Our how to write a CV guide goes deeper.

Tailor the format to each job

The same format works for most jobs. But the content should change for each advert. Move the most relevant role and skills to the top. Use the same words the advert uses, such as "reconciliations", "procurement planning" or "patient care".

This tailoring is what KaziMatch does for you. Paste a job advert and our AI rewrites your CV and cover letter around it, using only your real experience. It never invents jobs or qualifications. You can start with a free fit check to see how well you match.

Quick checklist before you send

• Two pages or less
• Reverse-chronological order
• One simple font, no tables or columns
• No ID number, age, tribe, religion or photo
• Numbers in your achievements
• Saved as PDF with a clear file name
• Proofread twice, then read it aloud once

Ready to apply? Browse current jobs in Kenya and use this format for each application.