Engaging in a side hustle doesn’t just augment your income but also grants you the freedom to pursue your passions and interests beyond your primary job. Thankfully, the digital era has ushered in a plethora of side hustle opportunities in Kenya.
Whether you’re a student, a full-time worker, or a stay-at-home parent, there is an abundance of avenues to earn extra money while balancing your existing commitments.
In this article, we will delve into some of the best side hustles in Kenya that can bolster your earnings and propel you closer to your financial objectives.
11 Best Side Hustles to Make Money In Kenya
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is gaining popularity as a lucrative side hustle in Kenya, providing individuals with an avenue to supplement their income. The concept is straightforward: you promote products from other people or companies and earn a commission for every sale you facilitate.
The attractiveness of affiliate marketing lies in its low-risk nature, allowing you to start with minimal investment and potentially transform it into a full-time income source. What sets it apart is that you don’t need to create or maintain any products.
Instead, you focus on choosing a profitable niche and identifying high-paying affiliate products to promote. This way, you can leverage existing products and earn a commission for each successful referral or sale.
To embark on your affiliate marketing journey, you can either establish an affiliate website or blog to showcase your chosen offers or explore alternative methods for earning commissions even without a website.
2. Earn Money by Watching Videos
If you seek a simple and direct way to make money online in Kenya, consider the appealing prospect of getting paid to watch videos. This emerging side hustle offers a convenient way to make money from the comfort of your home.
Numerous platforms now offer opportunities for users to be rewarded for watching videos, with some even providing video-related job opportunities. The process is remarkably effortless – just sign up for an account, enjoy watching videos, and accumulate points that can later be exchanged for cash.
Whether you have spare time during your evenings, or weekends, or simply want to make the most of your downtime, earning money by watching videos can be a viable and enjoyable option.
3. Food Delivery Services
Food Delivery service in Kenya is a profitable small business idea. As e-commerce and online food shopping continue to thrive, businesses actively seek reliable delivery drivers to ensure smooth food distribution to their customers.
Additionally, you can offer personalized delivery services, running errands or delivering groceries. To embark on this venture, reliable transportation such as a car or motorbike, coupled with a valid driver’s license, is essential.
Platforms like Uber Eats, Bolt Food, and local business collaborations serve as valuable resources for finding delivery opportunities.
4. Launch a Freelancing Career
Freelancing presents a lucrative opportunity for individuals in Kenya to earn extra income by capitalizing on their specific skill set. Even if you lack particular skills, there are various easy services through which you can earn money as a freelancer.
Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr offer a plethora of freelance work opportunities, enabling you to showcase your talents and connect with potential clients. Alternatively, you can tap into your network of businesses and individuals to explore freelance opportunities within your circle.
The beauty of freelancing lies in its flexibility, allowing you to choose projects that align with your abilities and interests. By delivering quality work and building a strong reputation, you can gradually expand your client base and increase your earning potential.
5. Utilize Side Hustle Apps
A wide array of side hustle apps exists, offering fantastic opportunities to increase your income. Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home parent, or someone simply looking to earn extra money, these apps provide diverse ways to make money online.
To help you discover the most suitable options, we’ve compiled a list of top-rated apps that can aid you in establishing a secondary income.
With this versatile selection, you can choose the apps that best align with your financial goals and start using them to enhance your earnings.
6. Launch an Email-Based Business
Email marketing is a well-proven strategy with considerable potential for income generation. By building an email list of subscribers, you can effectively engage with them through promotional offers or valuable content.
This opens up opportunities to promote your own products or services, as well as earn commissions by endorsing products from others. Operated from the convenience of your home, email marketing serves as a hassle-free source of supplementary income.
To embark on this venture, you can access all the necessary knowledge and skills required to start right here, ensuring you have the tools to succeed in this lucrative business.
7. Resell Services
This business model, commonly referred to as service flipping, involves obtaining services at a lower cost and then reselling them at a higher price to generate a profit.
What makes this business particularly appealing is that you can initiate it without any upfront capital, as you receive payment from your clients before acquiring the service from the provider.
Service flipping offers a wide range of possibilities, enabling you to flip various services such as website design, content writing, social media management, SEO services, and more. It serves as an effective means of earning extra income on the side.
If you’re interested in exploring this avenue and learning all the essential techniques for flipping services profitably, you can access comprehensive resources and guidance to get started.
8. Sell Books on Amazon
If you have a flair for writing or a deep passion for storytelling, the option of publishing books on Amazon offers a pathway to generating passive income in Kenya. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing allows you to self-publish eBooks and paperbacks at no upfront cost.
Through this platform, you can earn royalties with each sale, while your book gains access to a vast global audience of millions of readers. To embark on your self-publishing journey, you’ll need to start by writing your book, ensuring proper formatting, and creating an eye-catching cover.
Tools like Designrr can be valuable for formatting your book, and Canva provides a user-friendly interface for designing your book cover.
With these resources at your disposal, you can take the initial steps towards self-publishing and harness the potential for passive income through your literary creations.
9. Sell Photos Online
Selling photos presents an exciting opportunity for an online side hustle that you can explore. If you have a keen eye for photography, you can leverage the growing demand for exceptional stock images.
Numerous apps and platforms provide opportunities to monetize your photos, transforming your passion into profit.
To excel in this venture, a good camera and a keen eye for detail are essential. Capturing unique and high-quality images that stand out from the competition is crucial.
Staying informed about market trends and producing images in high demand will enhance your success in this lucrative side hustle.
10. Video Transcription
If you possess excellent listening and typing skills, video transcription presents a promising side hustle opportunity. Many businesses and individuals require transcription services for diverse purposes, including creating video subtitles and transcribing interviews.
Platforms like TranscribeMe and GoTranscript offer avenues to secure transcription work, or you can proactively reach out to businesses and individuals within your network.
As you gain experience in the field, you can gradually increase your rates, commanding higher compensation for your transcription services. This flexible endeavor allows you to earn extra income while putting your language and typing proficiency to good use.
11. Digital Printable
Sales For those with design skills, the option to create and sell digital printables, such as calendars, planners, and wall art, through online platforms is a compelling choice.
Websites like Etsy and Creative Market provide platforms for showcasing and selling your digital creations, while social media platforms offer effective promotional channels to reach potential customers.
The beauty of digital printables lies in their potential for generating passive income, as you only need to create them once and can sell them repeatedly. Additionally, offering personalized designs to clients allows you to charge a premium for your custom services.
Final Words On Side Hustles In Kenya
In Kenya, a myriad of opportunities awaits individuals seeking to enhance their income through side hustles.
We’ve explored a diverse range of lucrative options that cater to various skills, interests, and resources. Whether you possess talents in freelancing, digital marketing, e-commerce, or creative pursuits, there is a side hustle that can align with your needs and aspirations.
By harnessing the potential of online platforms, networking, and refining your skills, you can unlock opportunities for financial growth and personal fulfillment.
