How to make money online in Kenya for free [ in 2024]

Learn how to make money online in Kenya for free in this article..

So, must you pay money to make money online? That is the question that seems to bother so many Kenyans…and it is understandable now that there are a lot of online scams that are sold as Invest X Shillings to earn Y shillings…

And truth be told, these are the schemes you’re likely to come across the first time you try to make money online in Kenya…I was also almost scammed when it was trying to find out ways to make money online in Kenya (some guys were presenting themselves as super-rich from their secret make money online venture and I almost fell for the bait)

But here is the good news: Since then I have learned tons of ways you can make money online in Kenya without paying a penny..

And these are the ways I will share with you below……and guess what? Some of them pay very handsomely (They pay better than many 8-5 jobs)..

How to make money online in Kenya for free (how to make money online without paying anything in Kenya)

As I have told you above, there are quite a number of legit ways you can make money online in Kenya for free (without paying anything upfront)

Below are some of these options….read through and see which can work best for you (based on your skill set, educational background, passion, hours you can devote to online work daily, and more).

 

Freelancing (working online as a freelancer in Kenya)

My friend, you should not sleep hungry in Kenya if you have skills such as writing, programming, graphic design, digital marketing, Video editing, etc.

Why?

Because guys are milking huge cash online in Kenya selling these skills on various platforms (Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, PayPerHour, etc.)…you can as well offer your services and start smiling all the way to the bank(based on your expertise).

How does it work?

You will meet Clients from around the planet on these platforms- and they will have advertised the kind of service they want to hire you for (they hire freelancers like you for various tasks- from writing blog posts, doing academic assignments, editing YouTube shorts, and more)

And all you have to do is go to the platform of your choice (Google Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, PayPerHour, etc), create an account, and start looking for work.

To be clear, on Fiverr, you advertise yourself by creating Gigs while for many of the others, you simply start scrolling through the many jobs until you see a job that fits you and apply.

Something else on online writing in Kenya:

Remember there are dozens of other websites that can pay you for writing good articles, blog posts, and other types of content.

These include Textbroker, Constant Content, Writer Access, Verblio, and Contently

True…they have stricter requirements, particularly for writers from third world countries like Kenya but if you can overcome that, then you can earn better money by writing for clients.

And you have the option of buying an account + an RDP if you are apprehensive about the tough conditions when opening an account there..

And did I mention Online Translation and Transcription?

Yeah, it’s another potentially good way to make money online in Kenya as a freelancer…

The only requirement?

Well, fluency in multiple languages…

So you will be working as an online translator or transcriptionist and get paid to translate content (articles, research papers, even religious materials) from language X to language Y (e.g. From Kiswahili to English, German to Chinese, etc).

Go to websites like One Hour Translation, Appen, and Rev (Google them) and start scouring for these opportunities there…

 

 

Online Surveys and Market Research

Participating in online surveys and/or market research can also earn you some extra income.

Here we are speaking about websites like Toluna, Swagbucks, and Survey Junkie….they offer reasonable compensation for simple tasks like completing surveys, watching some videos, and giving feedback (you’re asked questions)

Again all you have to do is go to the website (see links below), create an account(register with your email address), and bid your time until a relevant survey/video appears.

Be fast because there are usually a lot of people hanging around for the surveys/videos/games – so you want to click on it as soon as it shows up.

One thing I like about most of these Surveys /Market Research websites is that they often send you an email alert any time a survey worth your time comes in…

 

Content Creation

Here at Kenya Online College, we encourage beginners who are serious about making money online in Kenya to consider venturing into content creation (become a digital creator).

How does it work?

Well, if you have insatiable passion for creating content (writing blog posts/articles, making videos, recording good talks), you can start a blog(a website), a YouTube channel(or a TikTok), or a podcast.

Then?

Now, once your content has gained traction (you have built enough followers- for YouTube it is 500 subscribers and 4000 watch hours), you can monetize your content either through:

• Google ads – Google pays you once people click on the ads they place on your digital asset
• Sponsorships by brands/companies
• Affiliate marketing (selling products on behalf of big e-commerce companies for commission)
• Merchandise sales (selling your own items- here you will be running an online shop and you can sell literally anything).

Take it from me: This is one of the best ways to earn good income online (I have done it for years and yes, it works like a charm)

 

Online Tutoring

This is for teachers (or you are somebody who can teach anything…could be you’re a self-taught entrepreneur who like sharing what they know)

So in short, if you’re knowledgeable in a particular topic/discipline, you can start tutoring interested people online.

So, where can you work as an online tutor?

Well, websites like Chegg Tutors, Tutor.com, and even VIPKid connect tutors like you with prospective students seeking assistance (on a wide range of subjects)

So go there, register (create an account), and try your luck.

The only thing that you need to keep in mind is that you’ll be awake at odd hours- if you get students from western countries (e.g. USA/UK) because of different time zones

 

How to make money online in Kenya for free – more ways to make money online in Kenya without investing money

 

 

Selling Products Online

When it comes to merchandise sales, you don’t have to create content yourself..

No….you can sell products through platforms that are already established….I’m sure you have heard about Jumia, Kilimall, or even Jiji…..create an account, add good photos of what you’re selling (together with compelling descriptions), set prices, and wait for orders to start flowing..

What’s more?

Social media platforms like Facebook Marketplaces also work for some products (and TikTok too, especially if you can go live and do it nicely).

As regards where to get products, you can source products locally from Kamukunji and Gikomba.

Your other option is to do dropshipping….this is the way to go if you don’t have capital or you do not want to commit your money first.

Let me clear the air here, just in case you don’t know how dropshipping works…

You approach dealers who do not sell online and strike a deal with them (like you can approach electronics dealers, speak about products like Smart TVs, phones, etc. and agree that once you connect them to buyers, you’ll be getting a certain percentage).

Do not forget that there’s absolutely no one who’ll have an issue with you bringing them clients so approach any dealers of products that you feel you can sell (and persuade them).

Just be sure to follow up with your clients because some dealers are not honest and won’t remit your share if you don’t call to ask for it.

Let me add this: The only thing you need here is courage ..if you’re bold enough, you can become a huge online marketplace whereby you leverage other people’s investment..(you only invest your time)

 

Online Courses and Ebooks

Back to those who have expertise/knowledge they may want to make money from online..

Well, if you’re in this group, and you’re good at a specific topic, why not create and sell online courses or even ebooks on your favorite topic.

Just to give you a better perspective, a friend has been creating and selling eBooks and courses on getting out of debt (I never knew that so many people are held back by debt and are searching for a lasting solution until I saw how fast his books were selling)

Reminder: You can sell courses on international platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Gumroad(for a commission).

Speak to us here at Kenya Online College if you want to go in this direction: We can help you all the way – from creating your eBook or course the right way to publishing it on Udemy or elsewhere..

 

Microtasking

If you’re just looking at making some spare cash online (money to buy groceries, airtime, bundles, etc), then consider platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk.

These allow you to complete small tasks (data entry, image labeling, cropping photos, tagging, data verification, ad monitoring, and more) for a small payment.

Below are some of microtasking websites you can try:

• Amazon MTurk
• KashKick
• 25Clicks (PartTimeClicks)
• Microworkers
• Spare5
• Remotetasks

 

Stock Photography

If you’re a skilled photographer (or you like taking photos even if as a hobby), you can get paid from selling your photos on stock photography websites such as:

• Shutterstock
• Adobe Stock
• Getty Images
• Alamy
• Stocksy
• 500px
• Depositphotos
• SmugMug
• 123RF
• iStock Photo
• Etsy photography shop

Finding a good niche is key here – You can do nature photography, travel, cityscapes, fashion, etc.

The next thing is consistency- a bit of creativity helps you stand out.

 

 

How to make money online in Kenya for free (how to make money online for free in Kenya) – Final words

Remember that while all these methods will help you make money online for free in Kenya, you need to put in the effort (dedication is important).

You also need a bit of time before you start seeing substantial income…most will start paying back after you have mastered the ropes which can take you anywhere between 2-6 months.

And of course, it’s also very important to be careful about online scams…fraudsters are always cooking something new so never dive into anything without researching the platform/opportunity.

Remember the rule?

If you’re being asked to pay for it, then it is likely a scam…RUN!

 

 

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