Claim back staff training costs from NITA (training levy reimbursement)
National Industrial Training Authority · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Get NITA's approval before the training, then claim within a month after the course ends. Only employers who are registered and up to date with the KSh 50 training levy qualify, and NITA pays at the rates in your approval letter.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- How long
- Within 2 months after the training quarter (as stated in your approval letter)
- Deadline
- Training approval application: at least 7 days before a local course, 14 days before an overseas course.
- Deadline
- Reimbursement claim: within a month after the approved course ends.
- Where
- Online: NITA's training approval system and Levy Portal (or manually at a NITA office). NITA HQ: Commercial Street, Industrial Area, Nairobi.
What you need
- For the approval: a copy of each nominee's national ID or passport
- The NITA claim form for reimbursement of approved training (NITA/F&ACC/F/02), stamped by the employer
- A copy of NITA's course approval letter
- Original or certified receipt from the approved training provider, where applicable
- Copies of transcripts or certificates from the training provider
- Signed attendance list
- For in-house courses: the course evaluation form
Steps
- Make sure you're registered with NITA as a levy contributor and your monthly levy is fully paid.
- Before the course, apply to NITA for training approval online and attach each nominee's ID or passport. Pick a NITA-registered training provider.
- After the course, send your claim through the Levy Portal or manually within a month, with the receipts, certificates, attendance list and approval letter.
- NITA reimburses part or all of the cost at the rates set in your approval letter.
Watch out
- No approval before training means no refund. Seek NITA's approval first.
- If you use a private trainer, they must be registered with NITA.
- Degree and Masters courses, conferences, meetings, study tours, trade fairs, overseas courses under 2 weeks and training by your own staff don't qualify.
Who can apply
- Employers registered with NITA as training levy contributors and up to date with the monthly levy.
- Only staff on whom you pay the levy are covered.
- Trainees must be citizens of East African Community countries working in Kenya.
Official sources (5)
- Levy Inspectorate nita.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Guidelines on Training for Skills Upgrading (NITA/IBTA/G/03) nita.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Citizen Service Delivery Charter nita.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Claim Form for Reimbursement of Expenses for Approved Training for Performance Improvement (NITA/F&ACC/F/02) nita.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- NITA Unveils Online Skills Upgrading Training Approval System to Enhance Efficiency and Transparency nita.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026