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To write a cover letter in Kenya, keep it to one page and four short paragraphs: the role you want and why you fit, two or three proofs from your experience, why this employer, and a polite close. Tailor it to every job. A good cover letter doesn’t repeat your CV. It connects your CV to the job.
What a Cover Letter Is For
Your CV lists what you’ve done. Your cover letter explains why that makes you right for this job. It’s your chance to speak in your own voice before the interview.
A strong letter helps you:
- Show you’ve read and understood the ad
- Highlight the two or three most relevant things on your CV
- Explain what the CV can’t, such as a career change or relocation
- Show how you write, which matters in almost every role
Not every employer reads cover letters closely. But when an ad asks for one, a missing or generic letter can knock you out. When it’s optional, a strong one can move you up the pile.
How to Write a Cover Letter in Kenya: Structure That Works
Header. Your name, phone, email and town, then the date, then the employer’s name and address if you have it.
Greetings. Use a name if the ad gives one: “Dear Ms Achieng,”. If not: “Dear Hiring Manager,”. Skip “Dear Sir/Madam” and “To whom it may concern”. They feel dated.
Paragraph 1 — the hook (2–3 sentences). Name the role and the main reason you fit. Get to the point.
Paragraph 2 — the proof (3–4 sentences). Pick two or three requirements from the ad. Show where you’ve done them, with results if you can.
Paragraph 3 — why them (2–3 sentences). Show you know something real about the employer, such as its customers, a project or its sector, and link it to what you bring.
Paragraph 4 — the close (1–2 sentences). Thank them and say you’d welcome an interview. Sign off with “Yours sincerely” if you used a name, or “Yours faithfully” if you used “Hiring Manager”.
What to Leave Out of Your Cover Letter
- “I am writing to apply for the above-mentioned position.” Everyone writes it. Open with you and the role instead.
- Your whole CV in paragraph form. Choose the highlights.
- Personal details like age, ID number, religion or marital status.
- Hardship. “I really need this job” doesn’t strengthen your case. What you offer does.
- Salary expectations, unless the ad asks.
- Clichés with no proof, like “excellent communication skills”.
- Anything you can’t back up at an interview.
- The wrong company name. Check twice before sending.
You have real value to offer. The letter’s job is to make it easy to see.
Full Cover Letter Example
For an entry-level accounts assistant role. Names and companies are placeholders.
Grace Wambui Thika, Kenya | 07XX XXX XXX | grace.wambui@email.com
[Date]
Hiring Manager [Company Name] [Town]
Dear Hiring Manager,
I’m applying for the Accounts Assistant role at [Company Name]. I hold a Diploma in Business Management with a focus on accounting, and for the past year I’ve handled supplier payments and petty cash for a busy hardware business. I’d like to bring that hands-on experience to your finance team.
Your ad asks for accuracy with invoices, experience with accounting software and the ability to reconcile accounts. At [Previous Employer], I processed supplier invoices in QuickBooks each week and reconciled the petty cash float every Friday. I also set up a spreadsheet to track overdue customer payments, which helped the owner follow up faster.
I’m drawn to [Company Name] because of your work supplying [sector] across [region]. A growing distribution business needs clean, up-to-date records, and that’s the part of finance I enjoy most.
Thank you for considering my application. I’d welcome the chance to discuss how I can support your team.
Yours faithfully, Grace Wambui
Why it works: it names the role in the first line, mirrors three requirements from the ad, gives specific examples, shows knowledge of the employer, and stays under 300 words.
