The internet offers vast opportunities for Kenyans to make money online, whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone looking for part-time income. With the rise of mobile internet and affordable data, it’s easier than ever to turn your skills into income-generating ventures. But like every market, some methods work better than others. This article will explore various ways to make money online in Kenya, including my perspective on dropshipping, and offer additional ways you can tap into the growing online economy.
1. Dropshipping: The Easiest but Risky Business Model
Dropshipping is often seen as one of the most accessible ways to make money online in Kenya. Essentially, dropshipping allows you to sell products online without ever handling inventory. When a customer orders from your online store, you purchase the product from a supplier who ships it directly to the buyer. Sounds easy, right?
Why Dropshipping is Attractive:
- Low startup cost: You don’t need to purchase stock upfront.
- No inventory management: You save on warehousing costs.
- Wide range of products: You can sell virtually anything.
The Downsides: However, while it’s one of the easiest online business models to start, dropshipping is quickly becoming saturated. Profit margins are steadily declining because competition is fierce, and big platforms like Shopify have lowered the entry barrier. Many sellers are offering the same products, often racing to the bottom with pricing wars.
2. My View: Leveraging Services Around Dropshipping
While dropshipping itself may face profitability challenges, the same companies that support dropshipping — logistics companies, eCommerce platforms, and marketing agencies — require other services. If you’re looking to benefit from the trickle-down of dropshipping profits, consider offering these complementary services:
- Content Creation: Businesses are hungry for engaging content to attract customers. You can make money by creating product descriptions, social media content, blog posts, or videos for these companies. As video marketing becomes more prevalent, creating professional video content or product review videos can be highly lucrative.
- Social Media Influencing and Brand Ambassadorship: Many online stores need influencers to promote their products. You can start by building a personal brand on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. Once you gain traction, companies will pay you to promote their products. Alternatively, becoming a brand ambassador for certain online companies can bring a steady stream of income as you help them increase their visibility.
3. Freelancing: The Gig Economy
Freelancing remains one of the most popular and flexible ways to earn money online in Kenya. Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer offer Kenyan professionals the opportunity to showcase their skills to an international audience. Skills that are in high demand include:
- Writing: Content writing, copywriting, and ghostwriting for blogs, websites, and marketing campaigns.
- Graphic Design: Designing logos, banners, infographics, and social media content.
- Web Development: Many small businesses and individuals are looking for affordable web development services, and this can be a goldmine if you have coding or design skills.
- Virtual Assistance: Businesses need help with administrative tasks like email management, data entry, and scheduling, creating opportunities for virtual assistants to work remotely.
4. Online Tutoring and Coaching
Online education is growing in popularity in Kenya, especially with the introduction of digital learning platforms. If you have expertise in a particular field — whether it’s academic subjects, skills like coding, or even fitness coaching — you can earn money by offering tutoring sessions through platforms like TeachMeNow or Zoom.
Additionally, creating and selling your online courses on platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, or even your own website is another way to generate passive income.
5. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services online and earning a commission on sales made through your referral links. The beauty of affiliate marketing is that you don’t need to create your own product or service — you simply promote what others are selling.
- Jumia Affiliate Program: As one of the largest online marketplaces in Kenya, Jumia offers a lucrative affiliate program where you can earn commissions by promoting products on their platform.
- Amazon Associates: If your target audience is more global, you can also sign up for the Amazon affiliate program and earn commissions by driving traffic to their product listings.
To succeed in affiliate marketing, you’ll need a platform to promote these products. This can be a blog, YouTube channel, or even social media account.
6. Blogging and Vlogging
Starting a blog or YouTube channel is another excellent way to make money online in Kenya. Once you’ve built an audience, you can monetize your content through ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing.
- Google AdSense: Displaying ads on your blog or YouTube channel through Google AdSense is one of the simplest ways to make money once you have traffic.
- Sponsored Content: Brands may approach you for sponsored blog posts or videos, where they pay you to promote their products or services.
While it takes time to build an audience, once you’re established, it can be a passive income stream.
7. Digital Marketing
The demand for digital marketing professionals is growing, and Kenyans can tap into this opportunity. Businesses worldwide are looking for experts in:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimizing websites to rank higher on search engines like Google.
- Social Media Management: Managing social media accounts, creating content, and driving engagement.
- Email Marketing: Building and managing email campaigns for businesses.
If you’re proficient in any of these areas, you can offer your services on freelancing platforms or directly to businesses.
8. Selling Digital Products
Digital products like eBooks, online courses, and software are a growing market. Once created, digital products can be sold repeatedly without any additional cost.
- Self-publishing eBooks on platforms like Amazon Kindle can bring in passive income. If you have knowledge in a particular niche, you can write an eBook and sell it online.
- Graphic Templates and Software: Selling digital assets like website themes, graphic templates, or even mobile apps can be highly profitable.
9. Selling Products on Jumia or Kilimall
If you prefer selling physical products but don’t want the hassle of dropshipping, you can sell on platforms like Jumia or Kilimall. These platforms handle logistics and payments, making it easier for sellers to focus on sourcing and marketing products.
10. Part-Time Jobs for Students
For students in Kenya, part-time online jobs provide a flexible way to earn money while studying. Some websites, like Skywave.co.ke, offer opportunities where students can earn by adding content to their website. Such jobs allow students to gain work experience and earn substantial weekly income, making it a great option for balancing work and studies.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Way to Make Money Online in Kenya
Making money online in Kenya requires understanding your strengths and choosing a path that aligns with them. While dropshipping offers an easy entry, it may not be sustainable in the long run due to increasing competition and falling profit margins. Instead, you can focus on offering services that support the online economy, like content creation or digital marketing. Whether you opt for freelancing, affiliate marketing, or even becoming a brand ambassador, the online opportunities in Kenya are diverse and growing.
Additionally, websites like Skywave.co.ke provide part-time opportunities for students to earn money online by contributing content, which can be an excellent way for young people to gain financial independence.