How I earned My First Ksh.20,000 online in Kenya.
Making money online in Kenya is not a mere side hustle anymore, it is a stable income source of many. The advent of online platforms, freelance work and online businesses in Kenya means anybody with a smartphone and internet access can now earn using the internet.
In this article I will tell you how I actually earned my first Ksh.20,000 on the internet in Kenya, the legal sites I used and how you can embark on the same journey to become financially free.
Introduction: How to find Legit Ways to Make Money Online in Kenya.
Similar to most young Kenyans, I needed an additional source of money but I did not have capital to start up a shop or kiosk. It was then that I learnt that there are numerous legitimate avenues of Making money online in Kenya without necessarily having to invest a lot. Others that are the most popular are:
- Easy freelance beginners jobs in Kenya – writing, graphic design, transcription, virtual assistance.
- Affiliate marketing in Kenya – advertising products online and receive commissions.
- YouTube and content creation – monetize the video using ads and sponsorships.
- Online surveys and micro tasks – easy side hustles that are low-paying.
- Selling Digital products– eBooks, classes, templates and designs.

Given that I already enjoy writing, I chose to begin with freelance writing, one of the best online employment in Kenya that remunerates their workers via M-Pesa.
How I got my First Freelance Job.
At first, it wasn’t easy. I signed up to Upwork and Fiverr, and no one replied. I began to write free sample articles in order to become visible and then shared them on LinkedIn and Facebook groups where freelancers can be found.
Not long after, a Nairobi based business owner provided me with the first paid writing assignment. It was a small rate, and I felt confident and optimistic about it and received a good review that opened more opportunities.
My First Ksh.20,000 Online Earning
It took me three weeks of hard work and steady work to earn my first Ksh.20,000 online in Kenya. The money was transferred using PayPal and I was able to withdraw it quite easily using PayPal Mobile Money service which uses M-Pesa to withdraw money in Kenya.
It was life changing to see my M-Pesa balance swell due to an online job back in Kenya, it was just a reminder that the internet can actually pay should you work hard.
Key Lessons I Learned
- Begin with what you can do, – Make money out of your abilities. One can earn money by writing, designing, editing videos or even through social media.
- Patience – Jobs online do not happen overnight. Develop reputation and feedbacks.
- Acquire digital skills – The more you will acquire (SEO, Canva, social media advertisements), the more you will earn.
- Select secure methods of payment – PayPal, Payoneer, direct M-Pesa payouts, etc. are the safe ways to use.
Top online job markets in Kenya paying via M-pesa.

There are several good online Kenya jobs that are legit and are offered by the company if you want to start:
- Freelance writing – Blogs and articles, and web articles.
- Kenya Transcription jobs – Transcription in Kenya is converting audio into text.
- Virtual assistant – Organizing time, mail and online shops.
- Affiliate marketing – Marketing Jumia, Amazon, or local companies.
- Blogging in Kenya – How to write and earn money on AdSense.
- Online tutoring – Instruction on Zoom or programs such as Preply.
They are not frauds but they are real means of making money online without any investment in Kenya provided you are determined to learn and remain consistent.
There is no luck involved in making money online in Kenya. It is all about strategy and persistence. My experience of making my first Ksh.20,000 online revealed to me that everyone can do it with the proper attitude.

When you have been trying to find good honest means of making money online in Kenya, be it through freelance work, affiliate marketing, blogging or YouTube then it is your time to begin.
You can make your phone your office and your M-pesa account the validation of the fact that online hustles in Kenya are indeed possible.