#Online Jobs in Kenya that Pay Through M-PESA

[kennomollo]

Get Paid Through Mpesa: 9 Online Jobs for Kenyans

Do you want to earn money online and get paid through Mpesa? If so, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we will discuss 9 easy ways that you can earn money from the comfort of your own home. We will also provide tips on how to make the most of these opportunities. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started. How to make money online in Kenya through M-pesa. 1). News reporting on the Citizen…

[logicpublishers]

Top 9+ Online Survey Jobs That Pay Through M-Pesa In Kenya 2021

Top 9+ Online Survey Jobs That Pay Through M-Pesa In Kenya 2021

Are you looking for the best online survey jobs in Kenya that pay through M-Pesa? If yes, then this informative article is for you. The internet has completely changed how people make money in Kenya. Did you know you can actually make money online even using your mobile phone and get paid through Mpesa? Currently, there are various internet opportunities Kenyans have such as copywriting, writing…

[newscheckz]

Connected services can boost performance in an economy

New Post has been published on https://newscheckz.com/connected-services-can-boost-performance-in-an-economy-2/

Connected services can boost performance in an economy

The study by global payments company Mastercard indicates that fluctuation in income causes frustration for 60 per cent of gig workers in Kenya.

The study report also indicates that fluctuation in income from week to week is a cause for frustration for 60 per cent of gig workers in the country, and that is attributable to traditional ways of doing business.

Gig economy is a term used by economists to refer to jobs that are based on short-term, temporary and flexible independent contractual agreements.

The paper, The Gig Economy in East Africa: A Gateway to the Financial Mainstream, shows that the gig economy continues to grow, with almost two-thirds (60 per cent) of gig workers joining the gig economy between 2017 and 2019.

Access to capital

However, the research underscores that for the economy to reach its potential and unlock prosperity for millions of people, the digital divide must be bridged through connected devices that power the digital economy, and add value such as access to capital and market.

A gap between legacy business models, offline gig economy, and business designs meant for the future of work exist in Kenya, with the former still holding the bigger share of the market.

“Currently, the online gig economy is a tiny portion of the overall gig economy. In 2019, the total size of the online gig economy in Kenya stood at Sh11.7 billion, employing 36,573 people, while the offline gig economy comprises 5.1 million workers, and accounts for Sh2 trillion,” the paper states.

Despite this, online gig economy work is preferred, and the report found that almost 60 per cent of workers would prefer online gigs to offline because the former enables end-to-end management of projects.

Over 35 per cent of respondents said that finding gig work was easier on a digital platform, and about 30 percent said platforms made faster payments possible, and helped them connect to other workers.

Jorn Lambert, Chief Digital Officer at Mastercard said that while gig work is present everywhere in Kenya, the growth of digital technologies and connected devices presents a real opportunity to help gig workers quickly connect to consumers to meet their demands for services, and overcome significant pain points such as inconsistent work, financial planning challenges and late payments.

“If each key player in the gig economy ecosystem comes together – from the platform, to the mobile industry and the payments provider – we can ensure that the end-to-end journey of the gig worker is both smooth and profitable, and realise the true potential of inclusive, sustainable growth across the continent,” he said.

Some of the most common types of gig work in East Africa are in artisanal and general services, which include welders, electricians, carpenters, and domestic work.

Powerful motivator

The report identified business independence as a powerful motivator behind the movement, and being self-employed with the freedom to work at an individual pace are part of why gig work is growing.

“It is an inclusive space where people of different social and economic backgrounds can fit in and earn a living.”

Ngozi Megwa, Senior Vice President, Digital Partnerships, Mastercard in Middle East and Africa decried the reality that traditional platforms often do not adequately serve the needs of the gig worker, who is at risk from personal accident and injury, loss in revenue from any absence from work, incomplete delivery or payments, and economic volatility.

“However, connected devices are bridging divides between urban and rural, rich and poor, and connecting gig workers to peers, information, opportunities and services. But what’s equally as critical is establishing a digital identity for gig workers across platforms,” she noted.

While there are various gig platforms currently being utilised, it is difficult for a single platform to provide the value and benefits that workers require, such as easy collection of payments via digital channels, and access to credit, training and insurance, as they tend to move from one platform to another.

“A collaborative approach is called for to not just create jobs, but also a gig-worker identity that provide benefits, ensuring decent working conditions and improved livelihoods,” added Ms Megwa.

Ms Felistas Musyoki, a finance advisor says that those not already benefiting from the gig economy lack the necessary resources, confidence or exposure.

“It is an idea whose time has come and the potential is still huge. For the unemployed connected platforms can help them tap into their creativity. Through legislation and the right policies, Kenya can establish structures to encourage and attract more youth,” she notes.

With the digital economy fast becoming an enabler of greater prosperity and inclusion, gig platforms have proven to be key unlockers of many services and opportunities utilized by gig workers.

But access to gig work opportunities is often not enough to keep a gig worker afloat. Loans, instant payments, and benefits such as insurance, are the top three perks desired by gig workers in Kenya, and 45 percent of respondents said they are willing to pay between Sh100 and Sh500 a month for such benefits and services.

“Over 80 percent of respondents said instant payments when a job is completed is the most desired feature of a gig platform. And in step with the prevalent mobile money system, 62 percent of respondents said they prefer to receive payment through mobile money such as M-Pesa or Airtel Money because it is readily available, reliable, easy to manage, secure, and convenient,” the report established.

However, there are still barriers to internet access, speed and cost in rural areas that still need to be overcome to realize the massive opportunity that Kenya represents.

[ianrq918-blog]

Beetv Blueprint - Rinse As Well As Repeat

You May Face Legal Trouble For Utilizing ShowBox App Or Alternatives.

PhotoDirector.

Mobile applications often stand in comparison to desktop computer applications which are made to work on computer, and internet applications which run in mobile internet internet browsers instead of directly on the mobile phone. Customers with iOS gadgets download apps from the Apple App Shop, while Android individuals download from the Google Play Store. Mobile application growth is the development of computer system programs for usage on smart phones such as smart phones, clever watches, as well as tablets. Mobile apps are created for various OS such as Android, iphone, and Windows Mobile. In conclusion, there are countless mobile application around on the web and also probably there will certainly be millions much more.

In the UK and also US, law enforcement as well as knowledge solutions make use of mobile phones to perform security operations. They have modern technology that enables them to activate the microphones in mobile phones from another location in order to listen to discussions which happen near the phone. In several nations, cellphones are made use of to supply mobile financial services, which might include the ability to move money payments by protected SMS sms message. Kenya's M-PESA mobile banking solution, for instance, enables customers of the smart phone driver Safaricom to hold cash money equilibriums which are videotaped on their SIM cards. Cash can be deposited or taken out from M-PESA accounts at Safaricom retail outlets situated throughout the nation as well as can be transferred online from one person to another and used to pay bills to firms.

Is 123movies illegal?

ShowBox app and others are illegal to use As popular and safe to use as they may be, ShowBox and other similar apps are borderline illegal. They let you stream TV shows and movies or download them for offline viewing – all for free. They stream content through torrents and other direct sources – which is illegal.

Web-based application

The events consented to no bucks in legal damages for a small amount of copied code. On Might 9, 2014, the Federal Circuit partially reversed the area court ruling, judgment in Oracle's support on the copyrightability problem, as well as remanding the problem of fair use to the district court.

Ideal Photos & Gallery App-- 1Gallery.

You do not require to bother with anything if you don't have an Android tool to utilize this application. You can just install an Android emulator on your Windows PC and run ShowBox in addition to it. This approach will offer you the possibility to experience this amazing application as well as all its capabilities. Since they will be able to experience it on the huge screen, individuals who own Android gadgets can additionally assume about following this approach. Considering that ShowBox streams premium quality audio aesthetic web content, you will not face any trouble when streaming content with your desktop computer.

Google suches as Coreboot for the much faster start-up time, among other benefits. HP's initial Chromebook, and also the largest Chromebook on the marketplace back then, was the Structure 14 Chromebook launched February 3, 2013.

In 2019, many application developers still see their App Shop page as the only network to market their apps. That's a missed out on chance, due to the fact that there are plenty of other advertising and marketing channels that can bring in application installs. Most of those work best with a website, so consider building a touchdown page when you're producing your app.

How can I download movies for free on my phone?

Showbox is safe to use on most devices. It does not contain any viruses or malicious content that will harm your device.

Top 21 Many Used (and also downloaded and install) Mobile Applications.

Asana is the 800-pound gorilla of job monitoring for teams, overshadowing other preferred solutions like the qualified Trello. Asana is everything about operations and checkbox jobs that can be assigned to individuals. The Android application allows you take your tasks on the go and also offline, syncing your progress when you're back on have a peek here the network. It's an effective device with an exceptional interface, and brand-new attributes are included on a regular basis.

Is Moviebox the same as Showbox?

There are many applications which are free to access but they can also put you in danger. Be careful while downloading anything from the internet. Apart from this Yes Movies App is good to use and you can share it with your friends too. – Yes it is entirely safe to use and one can download it from free.

Showbox Alternatives.

The software is offered for developers, and also was launched in 2016. This began to change in 2012, with the release of the affordable Nexus 7 as well as a press by Google for developers to compose much better tablet computer applications. According to International Data Firm, deliveries of Android-powered tablets surpassed iPads in Q3 2012. According to StatCounter, which tracks only the usage for surfing the web, Android is the most preferred mobile os considering that August 2013. Android is the most preferred os for web surfing in India and also numerous other countries (e.g. basically every one of Asia, with Japan and North Korea exceptions).

Popcornflix was conceived in July 2010, as well as entered into live beta in March 2011. The website mostly streams independent attribute movies, most of which originate from Screen Media's collection. The solution is currently easily accessible in the USA and also Canada, with strategies to launch in even more areas in the future. ShowBox is Dead completely, the developers have stopped the support of the Application.

For followers of these categories, you ought to surf the content available on Viewster. Snap is also among the few cost-free streaming sites to offer top notch original scripted material. They have generated a number of initial tv shows consisting of Snatch and Sequestered. Snap is additionally the original residence of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld.

BlackPlayer.

To identify those sources, it is essential to speak to campus stakeholders, consisting of students, professors, team, alumni, and potential students. Large- as well as small-scale studies, emphasis teams, and beta testing can produce helpful comments when setting and reviewing existing needs software, hardware, and also workers budget plans.

[infohilltop]

ONLINE JOBS  THAT ANYONE CAN DO FROM HOME 2020

ONLINE JOBS  THAT ANYONE CAN DO FROM HOME 2020

Working from home has become very popular around the world. A lot of people are either leaving their work to focus on online jobs or doing online jobs alongside their regular jobs to increase income. In this article, we will look at the top legit online that anyone can do you will like it.

WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR SELF WORKING ONLINE?

The truth…

[fmservers]

Africa’s agtech wave gets $10 million richer as Twiga Foods raises more capital

Jake Bright Contributor

Jake Bright is a writer and author in New York City. He is co-author of The Next Africa.

More posts by this contributor

Nigerian data analytics company Terragon acquires Asian mobile ad firm Bizense

Africa Roundup: Local VC funds surge, Naspers ramps up and fintech diversifies

Kenya’s Twiga Foods has raised $10 million from investors led by the International Finance Corporation to add processed food and fast moving consumer goods to its product line-up.

The startup has built a B2B platform to improve the supply chain from farmers to markets. Twiga Foods now aims to scale additional merchandise on its digital network that coordinates pricing, payment, quality control, and logistics across sellers and vendors.

CEO and co-founder Grant Brooke sees “a growth horizon…to build a B2B Amazon,” with produce as the base.

“If we can build a business around fresh fruit and vegetables, everything else after that is much simpler to add on,” he told TechCrunch.

“Fresh food and vegetables gives you clients that are ordering every two days, and now that’s paying for access to vendors and a proper way to be on every street,” said Brooke.

“It’s now much easier to lay things over that that would have been very expensive to get to end retailers.” In addition to the processed food FMCG it will add now, CEO Grant Brooke named household goods, such as light-bulbs that stock and sell in lower volumes than produce, as something the startup could include in the future.     

The $10 million IFC led investment—co-led by TLcom Capital—comes in the form of convertible notes, available later as equity, according to Wale Ayeni, regional head of IFC’s Africa VC practice. As part of the deal, Ayeni will join Twiga Foods’ board.

Of the decision to fund the startup, Ayeni indicated IFC likes what the company’s already done in “figuring out a way to service a mass market with a digital platform focused on food in a sector that’s not really been touched,” he said. Another factor was Twiga’s prospects to create additional revenue by improving B2B supply chain for FMCG and other consumer products.

Co-founded in Nairobi in 2014 by Brooke and Kenyan Peter Njonjo, Twiga Foods serves around 2000 outlets a day with produce through a network of 13,000 farmers and 6000 vendors. Parties can coordinate goods exchanges via mobile app using M-Pesa mobile money for payment.

The company has reduced typical post-harvest losses in Kenya from 30 percent to 4 percent for produce brought to market on the Twiga network, according to Brooke.

“That’s savings we can offer the outlets and better pricing we can offer the farmers,” he said.

Twiga Foods generates revenues from margins on the products it buys and sells. As an example, the company could buy bananas at around 19 Schillings ($.19) a kilo and sell at 34 ($.34) Schillings a kilo.

“Our margin is how efficient we are at moving products between those two elements” and the company purchases from farmers at roughly 10 percent higher than Kenya’s traditional produce middle-men, according to Brooke.

Agtech has become a prominent startup sector in Africa. A number of companies, such as Ghana’s Agrocenta and Nigeria’s Farmcrowdy, have raised VC for apps that coordinate payments, logistics, and working capital across the continent’s farmers and food markets.

In 2017 Twiga Foods raised a $10.3 million Series A round lead by Wamda Capital. Earlier this year the startup partnered with IBM Africa to introduce a blockchain enabled finance working capital platform to its network of vendors.

With the new investment and product expansion, Twiga Foods will explore offering additional financial services to its client network. The startup doesn’t divulge revenue information but “profitability is on the horizon for us,” said Brooke.

Twiga Foods will maintain its focus primarily on Kenya, but “we’re starting to research and dabble in Tanzania,” according to Brooke.

The startup doesn’t plan to move beyond B2B to direct online retail. “I don’t think B2C e-commerce is viable on the continent once you factor in job size and cost of acquisition versus lifetime value,” said Brooke. He also named the high cost of marketing: “In B2C e-commerce space you really have to be in the advertising space. Our clients are ordering every two days with no marketing budget,” said Brooke.

So for the time being, Twiga Foods aims to stick with improving the supply chain for products between Kenya’s buyers and sellers.

Via Jonathan Shieber https://techcrunch.com

[theinvinciblenoob]

Jake Bright Contributor

Jake Bright is a writer and author in New York City. He is co-author of The Next Africa.

More posts by this contributor

Nigerian data analytics company Terragon acquires Asian mobile ad firm Bizense

Africa Roundup: Local VC funds surge, Naspers ramps up and fintech diversifies

Kenya’s Twiga Foods has raised $10 million from investors led by the International Finance Corporation to add processed food and fast moving consumer goods to its product line-up.

The startup has built a B2B platform to improve the supply chain from farmers to markets. Twiga Foods now aims to scale additional merchandise on its digital network that coordinates pricing, payment, quality control, and logistics across sellers and vendors.

CEO and co-founder Grant Brooke sees “a growth horizon…to build a B2B Amazon,” with produce as the base.

“If we can build a business around fresh fruit and vegetables, everything else after that is much simpler to add on,” he told TechCrunch.

“Fresh food and vegetables gives you clients that are ordering every two days, and now that’s paying for access to vendors and a proper way to be on every street,” said Brooke.

“It’s now much easier to lay things over that that would have been very expensive to get to end retailers.” In addition to the processed food FMCG it will add now, CEO Grant Brooke named household goods, such as light-bulbs that stock and sell in lower volumes than produce, as something the startup could include in the future.     

The $10 million IFC led investment—co-led by TLcom Capital—comes in the form of convertible notes, available later as equity, according to Wale Ayeni, regional head of IFC’s Africa VC practice. As part of the deal, Ayeni will join Twiga Foods’ board.

Of the decision to fund the startup, Ayeni indicated IFC likes what the company’s already done in “figuring out a way to service a mass market with a digital platform focused on food in a sector that’s not really been touched,” he said. Another factor was Twiga’s prospects to create additional revenue by improving B2B supply chain for FMCG and other consumer products.

Co-founded in Nairobi in 2014 by Brooke and Kenyan Peter Njonjo, Twiga Foods serves around 2000 outlets a day with produce through a network of 13,000 farmers and 6000 vendors. Parties can coordinate goods exchanges via mobile app using M-Pesa mobile money for payment.

The company has reduced typical post-harvest losses in Kenya from 30 percent to 4 percent for produce brought to market on the Twiga network, according to Brooke.

“That’s savings we can offer the outlets and better pricing we can offer the farmers,” he said.

Twiga Foods generates revenues from margins on the products it buys and sells. As an example, the company could buy bananas at around 19 Schillings ($.19) a kilo and sell at 34 ($.34) Schillings a kilo.

“Our margin is how efficient we are at moving products between those two elements” and the company purchases from farmers at roughly 10 percent higher than Kenya’s traditional produce middle-men, according to Brooke.

Agtech has become a prominent startup sector in Africa. A number of companies, such as Ghana’s Agrocenta and Nigeria’s Farmcrowdy, have raised VC for apps that coordinate payments, logistics, and working capital across the continent’s farmers and food markets.

In 2017 Twiga Foods raised a $10.3 million Series A round lead by Wamda Capital. Earlier this year the startup partnered with IBM Africa to introduce a blockchain enabled finance working capital platform to its network of vendors.

With the new investment and product expansion, Twiga Foods will explore offering additional financial services to its client network. The startup doesn’t divulge revenue information but “profitability is on the horizon for us,” said Brooke.

Twiga Foods will maintain its focus primarily on Kenya, but “we’re starting to research and dabble in Tanzania,” according to Brooke.

The startup doesn’t plan to move beyond B2B to direct online retail. “I don’t think B2C e-commerce is viable on the continent once you factor in job size and cost of acquisition versus lifetime value,” said Brooke. He also named the high cost of marketing: “In B2C e-commerce space you really have to be in the advertising space. Our clients are ordering every two days with no marketing budget,” said Brooke.

So for the time being, Twiga Foods aims to stick with improving the supply chain for products between Kenya’s buyers and sellers.

via TechCrunch

[dayallegal-blog]

Demonetisation: Road to Digital Economy

In terms of impact, few events can equal the demonetization of high-value Indian currency notes which took effect from November 9. The stories and rumors have been prolific, arguments and counterarguments endless; queues have reappeared in the age of 4G and the internet, and the media frenzy has been unparalleled. Economists appear to be widely divided over the efficacy and the impact of the move on the black money, which is variously estimated at 23 percent to 75 percent of the GDP. Demonetization is intended to flush out the black money and encourage a move to a cashless (or less cash-based) state and bring the parallel sector into the mainstream economy.

Critics argue that these motives have little economic justification and are more political in nature, in view of the coming state assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. To them, the amount of counterfeit currency in circulation is too small to be of any significance (0.004 percent of total cash in circulation); critics also point out that demonetization is unlikely to bring out much black money, since the bulk of it is held in illiquid assets such as land or gold and jewelry. Meanwhile, the common man has had to bear the economic hardship as 90 percent of all transactions are paid in cash. The brunt of the impact falls on those associated with the informal sector, which accounts for 80 percent of all jobs, where 85 percent of the workers are paid in cash.

Notwithstanding the above critiques, there is no doubt that the move creates a tremendous impetus toward greater financial inclusion. Demonetization has operationalized the Jan-Dhan bank accounts, with around 210 billion rupees ($3 billion) in deposits, based on recent statistics. The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched in 2014 to achieve greater financial inclusion, and increased bank account penetration from 35 percent to 53 percent during last three years. But around 74 percent of these new accounts remained non-operational with zero balances.

Financial exclusion imposes a very high cost on people. In India, 98 percent of people use non-banking channels such as hawala, and pay exorbitant costs to remit or receive money from their family members living in other regions. A survey of Indian migrant workers showed an average commission of 4.6 percent when transferring money through informal routes, whereas money transfers in a formal banking system come with little or no cost. Similarly, a meager 10 percent of Indian avail themselves of loans from banks. A person who is economically poor and does not have a bank account must access micro-finance – many times at usuriously high rates of 50 percent or more – and store money in the form of cash, livestock, or jewelry. The value of cash withers with inflation, jewelry runs the risk of theft, and livestock is perishable.

All these factors adversely affect the flow of income, and hence impact consumption. A study involving households in Kenya found people using the M­PESA service (a mobile banking service provided by Vodafone) are better equipped to absorb negative income shocks arising from poor health, crop failures, and job loss. Statistically comparable households not using the M­PESA service are likely to experience a six to ten percent reduction in consumption in response to similar income-related shocks.

How well these inflows will be utilized toward economic growth remains to be seen. Access to formal banking will increase saving rates, which will enable capital investment in sectors such as roads, ports, and railways. India needs to invest over $400 billion in infrastructure. As capital is scarce, a perfect capital market will ensure a higher return for each additional dollar of saving invested for building India’s infrastructure. Importantly, access to banking will increase the productivity of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME), and aid the Make in India initiative. It is worth noting that only 5 percent of MSMEs have access to institutional finance, underscoring the need for financial inclusion to drive India’s inclusive growth agenda.

People are reluctant to try new things unless it becomes necessary. The demonetization will nudge a larger number of individuals to lessen their dependence on cash transactions and resort to digital payments. Downloads of Paytm wallet (a mobile e-commerce company with a user base of over 150 million) has tripled since November 9. The earlier attempts of the Reserve Bank of India – which has granted permission to 11 Indian companies such as India Post, Reliance Industries, Airtel, Vodafone, etc. to venture into the payment banking sector – came with limited success.

For its part the government needs to facilitate this transition into digital economy. The year-on-year growth rate of registered Internet users in India stands at an impressive 32 percent. India has the second largest Internet user base in the world with more than 350 million users, after China with more than 600 million Internet users and ahead of the United States with an estimated 279 million users.

For a populous country like India, any future strategy for financial inclusion will call for technology to reach the bottom of the pyramid. To facilitate use of Internet and digital transactions, the government can consider forming a Digital Sevak Dal – a network of young people to educate and support the Indian public in cities and rural areas to transition to a cashless economy. The Student Police Cadet scheme in Kerala is an example where schoolchildren visit the homes of poor and the elderly and help with e-literacy and digital transactions. Given the large number of unemployed, and that it requires minimal investment in education, the initiative can create major positive spin-offs.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Telecommunication can join hands with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to facilitate the laying of fiber cables to achieve greater digital inclusion. The initiative can pay for itself, since bringing people onto digital banking platform will prevent leakages from subsidies. A study by McKinsey finds online payment of social benefits can save $22 billion per year.

India’s demonetization could be the push the country needs to move to digital banking, but it will take more concerted government efforts to promote a long-term transition.

Author Name:DEEPAK DAYAL (MBA, LLB) | Managing Partner,

Dayal Legal Associates .India. Advocate, Supreme Court Of India.

contact@dayalegal.in http://www.dayallegal.in

M : +919560732244 O:   +919069113331

[logicpublishers]

Top Lists Of Online Typing Jobs That Pay Through M-Pesa In Kenya 2021

Top Lists Of Online Typing Jobs That Pay Through M-Pesa In Kenya 2021

Are you a typist in Kenya looking for a way to get paid online? If yes, then this informative article is for you. Online typing jobs in Kenya have been embraced by both students and professionals as full-time or part-time jobs, and nowadays, freelancing is the easiest way to become financially independent. Online jobs in Kenya that pay through Mpesa are very friendly to work with and you don’t…

[logicpublishers]

Top 8+ Online Jobs That Pay Through M-Pesa In Kenya 2021

Top 8+ Online Jobs That Pay Through M-Pesa In Kenya 2021

Are you looking for the best online jobs in Kenya that pay through M-Pesa? If yes, then this informative article is for you. Many progressive firms in the country are now moving into embracing this by letting their employees work from home. To enroll in such, you only need a laptop, internet, personal time management, and an active M-Pesa account for payouts. One of the major pros of working…

[newscheckz]

Connected services can boost performance in an economy

New Post has been published on https://www.newscheckz.com/connected-services-can-boost-performance-in-an-economy-2/

Connected services can boost performance in an economy

The study by global payments company Mastercard indicates that fluctuation in income causes frustration for 60 per cent of gig workers in Kenya.

The study report also indicates that fluctuation in income from week to week is a cause for frustration for 60 per cent of gig workers in the country, and that is attributable to traditional ways of doing business.

Gig economy is a term used by economists to refer to jobs that are based on short-term, temporary and flexible independent contractual agreements.

The paper, The Gig Economy in East Africa: A Gateway to the Financial Mainstream, shows that the gig economy continues to grow, with almost two-thirds (60 per cent) of gig workers joining the gig economy between 2017 and 2019.

Access to capital

However, the research underscores that for the economy to reach its potential and unlock prosperity for millions of people, the digital divide must be bridged through connected devices that power the digital economy, and add value such as access to capital and market.

A gap between legacy business models, offline gig economy, and business designs meant for the future of work exist in Kenya, with the former still holding the bigger share of the market.

“Currently, the online gig economy is a tiny portion of the overall gig economy. In 2019, the total size of the online gig economy in Kenya stood at Sh11.7 billion, employing 36,573 people, while the offline gig economy comprises 5.1 million workers, and accounts for Sh2 trillion,” the paper states.

Despite this, online gig economy work is preferred, and the report found that almost 60 per cent of workers would prefer online gigs to offline because the former enables end-to-end management of projects.

Over 35 per cent of respondents said that finding gig work was easier on a digital platform, and about 30 percent said platforms made faster payments possible, and helped them connect to other workers.

Jorn Lambert, Chief Digital Officer at Mastercard said that while gig work is present everywhere in Kenya, the growth of digital technologies and connected devices presents a real opportunity to help gig workers quickly connect to consumers to meet their demands for services, and overcome significant pain points such as inconsistent work, financial planning challenges and late payments.

“If each key player in the gig economy ecosystem comes together – from the platform, to the mobile industry and the payments provider – we can ensure that the end-to-end journey of the gig worker is both smooth and profitable, and realise the true potential of inclusive, sustainable growth across the continent,” he said.

Some of the most common types of gig work in East Africa are in artisanal and general services, which include welders, electricians, carpenters, and domestic work.

Powerful motivator

The report identified business independence as a powerful motivator behind the movement, and being self-employed with the freedom to work at an individual pace are part of why gig work is growing.

“It is an inclusive space where people of different social and economic backgrounds can fit in and earn a living.”

Ngozi Megwa, Senior Vice President, Digital Partnerships, Mastercard in Middle East and Africa decried the reality that traditional platforms often do not adequately serve the needs of the gig worker, who is at risk from personal accident and injury, loss in revenue from any absence from work, incomplete delivery or payments, and economic volatility.

“However, connected devices are bridging divides between urban and rural, rich and poor, and connecting gig workers to peers, information, opportunities and services. But what’s equally as critical is establishing a digital identity for gig workers across platforms,” she noted.

While there are various gig platforms currently being utilised, it is difficult for a single platform to provide the value and benefits that workers require, such as easy collection of payments via digital channels, and access to credit, training and insurance, as they tend to move from one platform to another.

“A collaborative approach is called for to not just create jobs, but also a gig-worker identity that provide benefits, ensuring decent working conditions and improved livelihoods,” added Ms Megwa.

Ms Felistas Musyoki, a finance advisor says that those not already benefiting from the gig economy lack the necessary resources, confidence or exposure.

“It is an idea whose time has come and the potential is still huge. For the unemployed connected platforms can help them tap into their creativity. Through legislation and the right policies, Kenya can establish structures to encourage and attract more youth,” she notes.

With the digital economy fast becoming an enabler of greater prosperity and inclusion, gig platforms have proven to be key unlockers of many services and opportunities utilized by gig workers.

But access to gig work opportunities is often not enough to keep a gig worker afloat. Loans, instant payments, and benefits such as insurance, are the top three perks desired by gig workers in Kenya, and 45 percent of respondents said they are willing to pay between Sh100 and Sh500 a month for such benefits and services.

“Over 80 percent of respondents said instant payments when a job is completed is the most desired feature of a gig platform. And in step with the prevalent mobile money system, 62 percent of respondents said they prefer to receive payment through mobile money such as M-Pesa or Airtel Money because it is readily available, reliable, easy to manage, secure, and convenient,” the report established.

However, there are still barriers to internet access, speed and cost in rural areas that still need to be overcome to realize the massive opportunity that Kenya represents.