You’re a student in Kenya. You’re broke. Your allowance doesn’t stretch far enough, and you’re tired of begging your parents for extra cash.
I get it.
I’ve been there.
But here’s the truth: you don’t have to stay broke. There are ways to make money in Kenya as a student—and I’m not talking about pyramid schemes or sketchy side hustles.
These are 11 legit, practical, and easy methods you can start today. No fluff. No excuses. Just results.
Let’s dive in.
1. Turn Your Skills into Cash
You’ve got skills. Maybe you’re good at writing, designing, or even arguing with your lecturer (hello, future lawyer).
Freelancing lets you sell those skills online—and Kenyans are killing it in this space.
Here’s the deal: platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer connect you to clients worldwide. They need essays written, logos designed, or websites built. You deliver, they pay.
Why it works: You set your hours. You work from your dorm. You don’t need capital to start—just a laptop and internet.
How to Start Freelancing in Kenya
First, pick a skill.
Writing’s hot—Kenyans are naturals at it. Graphic design’s big too. Even data entry pays if you’re fast.
Next, sign up on a platform. Upwork’s my pick—tons of jobs, decent pay (think $5-$50 per gig).
Create a profile that screams “hire me.” Use a clear photo. Write a bio that shows you’re serious.
Start small. Bid on low-paying jobs to build reviews. Then scale up to bigger gigs.
Pro tip: Use M-Pesa to cash out via PayPal. It’s seamless in 2025.
- Tool recommendation: Grammarly for writing gigs. Keeps your work sharp.
- Earning potential: KSh 10,000–50,000/month once you’re rolling.
I know a guy, Kevin, a UoN student. Started writing blog posts for $10 a pop. Now he pulls KSh 80,000 a month. You can too.
2. Get Paid for Your Opinions
Companies want to know what you think. They’ll pay for it.
Online surveys won’t make you a millionaire, but they’re an easy way to make money in Kenya as a student—no skills required.
Sign up on sites like Swagbucks, Toluna, or GeoPoll (big in Kenya). Answer questions about products, habits, whatever.
Cash out via M-Pesa or gift cards.
How to Crush It with Surveys
Register on multiple platforms. More sites, more opportunities.
Fill out your profile completely—age, location, interests. This unlocks higher-paying surveys.
Set aside 30 minutes a day. Knock out 3-5 surveys. That’s KSh 200-500 daily.
Reality check: It’s not glamorous. You might answer 20 questions about toothpaste. But it’s money in your pocket.
- Tool recommendation: GeoPoll app—local, reliable, M-Pesa payouts.
- Earning potential: KSh 5,000–15,000/month if consistent.
My cousin Jane did this during her semester break. Made KSh 8,000 in two weeks. Bought herself a new phone. Small wins add up.
3. Profit from Your Lectures
You’re already taking notes in class. Why not make money from them?
Students everywhere need study guides—especially during exams. You can sell yours and cash in.
This is a goldmine for anyone looking to make money in Kenya as a student. Zero startup cost. Just your brain and a pen.
How to Sell Notes Like a Pro
Organize your notes. Make them clear, concise, and valuable—think diagrams, summaries, past papers.
Digitize them. Scan or type them up. PDFs sell best.
Post them on platforms like Stuvia or Nexus Notes. Or sell directly via WhatsApp groups to classmates.
Price smart. KSh 200-500 per set works—cheap enough to sell, high enough to profit.
Pro tip: Target hot courses—Accounting, Law, Medicine. Demand’s insane.
- Tool recommendation: CamScanner app—turns your phone into a scanner.
- Earning potential: KSh 5,000–20,000/month during exam season.
A friend at Kenyatta University sold her Economics notes last semester. Made KSh 12,000 in a week.
Lecturers teach—you cash in.
4. Start a Blog And Build a Money Machine
Blogging’s not dead—it’s evolving. And it’s a killer way to make money in Kenya as a student.
I know a JKUAT student who blogs about Kenyan startups. Took him 8 months to hit KSh 30,000/month. Now he’s at KSh 90,000. Patience pays.
You write about what you know. Fashion. Tech. Campus life. People read. Money flows.
It’s not instant cash, but it’s a long-term play that pays off big.
How to Launch a Blog in Kenya
Pick a niche. Something you’re obsessed with—Kenyan travel tips, student hacks, whatever.
Get a domain and hosting. Bluehost’s cheap—KSh 3,000/year. WordPress is free.
Write 10 posts. Make them epic—1,000+ words, useful, searchable.
Monetize with Google AdSense or affiliate links (think Jumia, Amazon).
Pro tip: Use SEO tools like Ubersuggest to find keywords Kenyans search for.
- Tool recommendation: Canva—free designs for blog graphics.
- Earning potential: KSh 10,000–100,000/month after 6-12 months.
Read also: 12 Profitable Ways to Make Money Online in Kenya Through M-Pesa
5. Tutoring: Teach What You Know
You’re a student. You’ve mastered something—math, Kiswahili, chemistry.
Other students (or their parents) will pay you to teach it.
This is a no-brainer way to make money in Kenya as a student. Demand’s high, supply’s low.
How to Start Tutoring
Identify your strength. What subject do you crush?
Spread the word. Tell friends, post in WhatsApp groups, hit up local high schools.
Charge per hour. KSh 500-1,000 is standard—more for specialized stuff like coding.
Go online. Use Zoom to tutor remotely—bigger reach, same pay.
Pro tip: Record sessions and sell them as mini-courses later.
- Tool recommendation: Zoom—free for 40-minute sessions.
- Earning potential: KSh 10,000–40,000/month part-time.
My buddy Peter tutors high school math. Three hours a week, KSh 20,000 a month. Easy money.
6. Run Accounts for Cash
You’re already on Instagram and X all day. Why not get paid for it?
Small businesses in Kenya need help with their social media. You can post, engage, grow their accounts—and pocket the cash.
It’s a perfect fit for students looking to make money in Kenya as a student.
How to Manage Social Media Like a Boss
Learn the basics. Watch YouTube tutorials on content creation and hashtags.
Find clients. Hit up local shops, salons, or startups—offer a KSh 5,000/month package.
Use tools like Canva for posts and Buffer to schedule them.
Deliver results. More followers, more sales—they’ll keep you on.
Pro tip: Start with one client. Nail it. Then scale.
- Tool recommendation: Buffer—free plan schedules 10 posts.
- Earning potential: KSh 5,000–30,000/month per client.
A girl I know manages a Nairobi boutique’s Instagram. Two hours a week, KSh 15,000 a month. Scroll less, earn more.
7. Sell Second-Hand Clothes (Mitumba)
Mitumba’s a billion-shilling industry in Kenya. You can grab a piece of it.
Buy low, sell high. It’s that simple—and students are perfect for it.
This is hands-on, but it’s a proven way to make money in Kenya as a student.
How to Start a Mitumba Hustle
Visit Gikomba or Toi Market. Buy a bale (KSh 5,000-10,000).
Sort the good stuff. Wash, iron, photograph it.
Sell on Instagram or WhatsApp. Price jeans at KSh 500, tops at KSh 300.
Deliver on campus or nearby—keep it local.
Pro tip: Bundle items (e.g., 3 tops for KSh 800) to move stock fast.
- Tool recommendation: Vinted app—track sales easily.
- Earning potential: KSh 10,000–50,000/month with one bale.
A Maseno student I met flipped a KSh 7,000 bale into KSh 20,000 in two weeks. Hustle beats handouts.
8. Snap Your Way to Cash
Got a phone with a decent camera? You’re in business.
People need photos—events, portraits, products. You can shoot and sell.
It’s creative, flexible, and a solid way to make money in Kenya as a student.
How to Start Photography
Practice. Shoot your friends, campus events, nature.
Edit with free apps like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile.
Offer services. KSh 1,000 for a portrait session, KSh 5,000 for an event.
Post your work on Instagram—let clients find you.
Pro tip: Sell digital downloads to stock sites like Shutterstock too.
- Tool recommendation: Snapseed—free, pro-level edits.
- Earning potential: KSh 10,000–40,000/month part-time.
A guy at Moi University shot a graduation gig. KSh 8,000 in a day. One phone, one hustle.
9. Sell Without Stock
Dropshipping’s simple: you sell products you don’t own.
A customer orders. You buy from a supplier. They ship. You profit.
It’s low-risk and perfect for students wanting to make money in Kenya as a student.
How to Start Dropshipping in Kenya
Pick a niche—phone cases, fitness gear, whatever’s trending.
Set up a store. Shopify’s KSh 3,000/month—worth it.
Find suppliers on AliExpress or local wholesalers.
Market on Instagram or TikTok. Drive traffic, make sales.
Pro tip: Test small—spend KSh 1,000 on ads to see what sells.
- Tool recommendation: Oberlo—free, syncs with Shopify.
- Earning potential: KSh 10,000–100,000/month with hustle.
A KU student sold gym wear. KSh 50,000 profit in three months. No inventory, all grit.
10. Work for Busy People
Busy folks—entrepreneurs, execs—need help. Emails, schedules, research.
You can do it remotely. It’s in demand and pays well.
A top pick to make money in Kenya as a student.
How to Be a Virtual Assistant
Learn basics—email management, Google Calendar, simple spreadsheets.
Find gigs on PeoplePerHour or LinkedIn. Search “virtual assistant Kenya.”
Charge KSh 500/hour to start. Raise it as you improve.
Be reliable. Deliver on time, every time.
Pro tip: Niche down—e.g., VAs for real estate pros are gold.
- Tool recommendation: Trello—free, keeps you organized.
- Earning potential: KSh 10,000–40,000/month part-time.
My friend Mary works 10 hours a week for a UK client. KSh 25,000/month. Time zones don’t stop cash.
Read also: How Recruitment Agencies Make Money in Kenya
11. Small-Scale Farming: Grow Your Own Money
Land’s everywhere in Kenya. Even a tiny plot works.
Grow veggies—sukuma wiki, tomatoes, onions. Sell to neighbors or markets.
It’s physical, but it’s a reliable way to make money in Kenya as a student.
How to Start Farming as a Student in Kenya
Use family land or rent a small plot (KSh 1,000-3,000/month).
Plant fast-growers. Sukuma wiki’s ready in 4-6 weeks.
Sell at local markets or door-to-door. KSh 50 per bunch adds up.
Scale with profits—buy seeds, drip kits, more land.
Pro tip: Join a farmers’ WhatsApp group for tips and buyers.
- Tool recommendation: FarmLogs app—free, tracks your crops.
- Earning potential: KSh 5,000–30,000/month from a small plot.
A guy near Egerton grew spinach on a quarter-acre. KSh 15,000 profit in two months. Dirt’s your bank.
Your Next Step: Stop Reading, Start Doing
You’ve got 11 ways to make money in Kenya as a student. No excuses left.
Pick one. Start today. Mess up, learn, improve.
Freelancing’s fast. Surveys are easy. Farming’s steady. Mix and match.
The only thing stopping you is you. So move.
Want more tips? Check our hustle guide on How to Make Money Online in Kenya for fresh ideas.
Now go make some cash.
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