With the rise of the internet and remote work opportunities, online jobs have become increasingly popular in Kenya. Online work provides flexible scheduling, ability to work from home, and in some cases – higher pay compared to local employment options. But with so many online jobs available, which ones are the best in terms of pay, qualifications required, and long-term prospects?
What are the most popular online jobs in Kenya?
Some of the most popular online jobs for Kenyans include:
- Freelance writing
- Virtual assistance
- Data entry
- Transcription
- Search engine evaluation
- Teaching English online
- Translation
- Graphic design
- Affiliate marketing
- Social media management
These jobs provide income opportunities for Kenyans with internet access and some basic skills or qualifications. The jobs have flexible work schedules, allowing people to work part-time or full-time as per their convenience.
What are the highest paying online jobs in Kenya?
While pay varies for online jobs, some of the highest paying opportunities for Kenyans include:
Online Job | Average Pay |
---|---|
Freelance Writing | KES 20,000 – KES 70,000 per month |
Software Development | KES 60,000 – KES 150,000 per month |
Affiliate Marketing | KES 30,000 – KES 100,000 per month |
Virtual Assistance | KES 15,000 – KES 60,000 per month |
Graphic Design | KES 20,000 – KES 80,000 per month |
Software development, freelance writing, and affiliate marketing emerge as some of the highest paying remote jobs for Kenyans. The pay varies based on your skill level, experience, and the demand for the niche skills you possess.
What skills are required for online jobs in Kenya?
Here are some of the common skills required for popular online jobs in Kenya:
- Writing Skills – For freelance writing, virtual assistance, transcription, search engine evaluation etc.
- English Proficiency – For teaching English, transcription, customer service etc.
- Coding Skills – For software development, app development, web development etc.
- Design Skills – For graphic design, illustration, video editing etc.
- Digital Marketing Skills – For affiliate marketing, social media management etc.
- Administrative Skills – For virtual assistance jobs involving scheduling, email management etc.
- Interpersonal Skills – For customer service, tutoring, teaching etc.
Beyond core skills, qualities like self-motivation, discipline, time management and communication are essential for success in online jobs. Developing expertise in tools like MS Office, G-Suite, Photoshop, and CRMs can also boost your prospects.
What are the easiest online jobs to get in Kenya?
Some of the easiest online jobs to get in Kenya with minimum skills and experience include:
- Transcription – Convert audio or video files to text documents
- Data Entry – Input data into digital formats and spreadsheets
- Search Engine Evaluation – Provide feedback on search engine results
- Customer Service – Handle customer queries and complaints remotely
- Virtual Assistance – Provide administrative support to clients
- Translation – Translate content from one language to another
These jobs have relatively low barriers to entry compared to fields like programming and marketing. You can get started as long as you have strong English skills, basic computer literacy, attention to detail and good communication abilities.
What are the main challenges of online jobs in Kenya?
Some key challenges faced while doing online jobs from Kenya include:
- Unreliable internet – Internet downtime can hamper work progress and lead to missed deadlines.
- Power outages – Frequent power cuts impact productivity.
- Payment issues – Some employers may delay or refuse payments, especially when starting out.
- Lower pay – Kenyans sometimes get paid less compared to freelancers from other countries.
- Lack of formal contracts – Most online jobs do not come with formal contracts or employee benefits.
- Tough competition – You compete with freelancers from across the world who offer lower rates.
- Isolation – The lack of coworkers and in-person interactions can take a toll.
Being a self-starter, utilizing coworking spaces, leveraging online communities, and being strict about payments can help overcome these challenges.
What are the best websites to find online jobs in Kenya?
Some leading websites used by Kenyans to find flexible online jobs include:
- Upwork – Freelancing platform with thousands of remote job opportunities.
- Fiverr – Get paid for online services including graphics, digital marketing and programming.
- Flexjobs – Specializes in screening and listing remote and flexible job opportunities.
- Remoters – Remote job board aggregator compiling listings from multiple sites.
- Virtual Vocations – Features work from home jobs for professionals.
- We Work Remotely – Curated remote job listings for developers, designers, writers etc.
- Angel List – Startup focused jobs portal with plenty of remote openings.
- Problogger – Great for finding freelance writing jobs and blogging gigs.
Creating profiles on 2-3 leading freelancing sites like Upwork and Fiverr while also exploring promising job boards can be a good way to find legitimate online job opportunities in Kenya.
Conclusion
While there are many online jobs available today, freelance writing, virtual assistance, software development, affiliate marketing, and graphic design stand out as most promising in the Kenyan context considering pay potential and skill requirements. By honing your skills, building a strong portfolio, managing time efficiently and persevering through initial challenges, Kenyans can carve out rewarding remote work opportunities and succeed as online freelancers. Websites like Upwork and Flexjobs combined with networking and persistence can open up a world of possibilities.