After hearing about the explosive growth of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, I decided to try my hand at crypto investing. My goal was to steadily build a portfolio that could make me financially independent within a few years.
Incredibly, I was able to turn an initial investment of just KSh50,000 into over KSh1 million in profits in under 18 months.
Here, I outline my exact strategy and key lessons learned while pursuing crypto wealth from Kenya. With the right mindset and disciplined approach, you too can achieve financial freedom through crypto.
Starting With Strong Foundations
Before investing a single shilling into crypto, I spent months learning about blockchain technology, Bitcoin, and the overall digital asset market.
I read books, listened to podcasts, watched YouTube videos, and joined Telegram groups. I didn’t want to blindly jump in without understanding this new digital money paradigm.
Some key mindset principles that prepared me included:
Long-term, buy-and-hold strategy– I knew crypto was volatile and could drop sharply in the short-term. My mindset was to hold for 5+ years, not try to time daily fluctuations.
Dollar-cost averaging – Instead of investing in a lump sum, I deployed my capital systematically over many small buys. This smoothed out price volatility.
Portfolio diversification – Bitcoin was my core holding, but I also bought major altcoins and stablecoins to manage risk.
SECURITY – I used hardware wallets, private keys, multi-sig, and layers of encryption to keep my crypto secure. Losing keys meant losing access, so security was paramount.
With the right mental models, I felt ready to embark on my crypto investing journey.
Starting Small with KSh50,000
In March 2021, I accumulated my starting capital by depositing KSh50,000 from my bank account into a popular Kenyan crypto exchange called Paxful.
I went through full KYC and chose an exchange with solid security practices.
I started by purchasing a core position of Bitcoin and Ethereum:
Bitcoin (BTC) – KSh25,000 (0.0015 BTC at ~$20,000 per BTC)
Ethereum (ETH) – KSh15,000 (0.35 ETH at ~$1,400 per ETH)
The rest I kept in stablecoins (USDT) to hedge against volatility and to trade altcoins. My total starting portfolio value was ~KSh50,000.
Executing My Dollar-Cost Averaging Plan
With my core BTC and ETH positions established, I began a systematic DCA (dollar-cost averaging) plan on Paxful.
Every 2 weeks on payday, I would:
Deposit KSh5,000 from my bank into stablecoins
Use 50% to buy BTC, 25% for ETH, 25% to trade altcoins
This regular buying meant I steadily accumulated more satoshis (fractions of BTC) over time regardless of price. Whenever the market dipped, my buys got me more crypto for the same KSh amount.
Trading Altcoins for Short-Term Profits
To supplement my long-term holds, I also traded smaller cap altcoins through Binance and PancakeSwap. These more speculative assets offered explosive upside, albeit with higher risk.
My altcoin trading rules included:
Hold BTC/ETH core, trade alts around it
Target 3-5x short term gains
Cut losers quickly, let winners ride
Move profits back into BTC/ETH
These rules allowed me to increase my core Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings by trading altcoin volatility.
Some winning trades included:
Bought MATIC at KSh5, sold at KSh15 (+200%)
Bought AAVE at KSh10,000, sold at KSh28,000 (+180%)
Bought DOGE at KSh0.50, sold at KSh2 (+300%)
These 3-5x wins accumulated rapidly, allowing me to grow my holdings substantially.
Managing Security and Risk
As my crypto portfolio grew into the hundreds of thousands, security became paramount. Here are some best practices I followed:
Used hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor) to secure private keys
Stored seed phrase backups securely in safe deposit boxes
Used complex passwords and 2FA everywhere
Joined a crypto insurance program for added protection
Limited account balances on exchanges to minimize risk
Diversified across assets uncorrelated to crypto (real estate, stocks)
No security setup is foolproof, but combining hardware wallets, backups, encryption, diversification, and insurance gave me confidence.
The Crypto Bull Market Accelerates Growth
After getting started in early 2021, I fortuitously benefited from the massive 2021 crypto bull market that took off that summer.
As corporations like Tesla bought Bitcoin, and adoption exploded, my portfolio rapidly appreciated:
Bitcoin went from ~$20k to ~$60k by November 2021
Ethereum went from ~$1,400 to ~$4,600 by November 2021
My systematic DCA strategy meant I was steadily accumulating BTC and ETH even as prices rose. By Q4 2021, my crypto holdings had climbed to over KSh1 million in value.
This period taught me the power of multi-year bull markets in maximizing returns. Timing is often underappreciated in financial success.
Lessons Learned Turning KSh50,000 into Over KSh1 Million
In just 18 months, my portfolio grew over 20x, far exceeding my expectations. Here are key lessons I learned during this wild crypto ride:
Have a plan and stick to it – My DCA and long-term holding strategy worked excellently through volatility
Security first – Lose your keys, lose your coins. Take security seriously from day one.
Keep learning – Crypto evolves rapidly. Stay humble and keep absorbing information daily.
Mindset matters – Don’t panic sell in fear. Have conviction in your holdings and strategy.
Diversify – Balance safer assets like BTC with calculated risks like altcoins and DeFi.
Enjoy the ride – Crypto is an exciting space. Stay balanced and enjoy participating in this technological revolution.
The crypto market is always evolving, but starting small, educating myself, and sticking to a plan helped unlock life-changing wealth I never imagined possible.
My crypto portfolio has given me financial freedom, security for my family, and a ticket to financial independence. The future is bright, on-chain!
Freelance writing can be an incredibly lucrative career if you know where to find clients and charge profitable rates. In just a few years, I’ve gone from struggling to find any writing gigs to earning over KSh1 million annually from freelance writing.
Below I outline the exact strategies I’ve used to land high-paying freelance writing jobs and hit six figures in annual income.
If you’re looking to get started or take your freelance writing career to the next level, this guide will show you how.
Build a Portfolio of Writing Samples
The most important thing when starting out is having a strong portfolio that shows clients the quality and range of your writing abilities. Here are some tips for developing a kick-ass portfolio:
Write 3-5 samples in your niche like technology, finance, health, etc. Make them around 1000-1500 words each.
Show off different formats – include copywriting samples, blog posts, SEO articles, social media posts, etc.
Highlight top skills – infographics, research, interviews, editing, etc.
Pick best work – only include your highest quality pieces. No filler.
Make it look sharp – visually polish samples. Easy to navigate and read.
** Publish samples** – add them to a personal blog or sites like Medium. Include live links in portfolio.
I spent months curating a portfolio that highlighted my finance and tech writing. This gave me pieces to share with clients when applying to writing jobs.
Learn In-Demand Skills
Expand your skillset beyond just writing. Many high-paying writing jobs require additional abilities:
SEO writing – optimize articles for search engines. Weave in keywords naturally.
Research – dig up data, statistics, expert interviews to form a solid basis for articles.
Topic specialization – develop deep expertise in finance, crypto, SaaS, healthcare, etc.
Tools – learn markup languages like Markdown. Know basics of Grammarly, Google Analytics, SEMRush.
I invested time learning SEO best practices, researching complex topics, and sharpening my finance knowledge. This made me much more hireable.
Find Freelance Writing Job Opportunities in Kenya
Once you have a rock-solid portfolio and skillset, it’s time to start finding job opportunities. The best places to look include:
Problogger job board – Great source of vetted clients hiring writers. I landed my first big client here.
Contena – Database of thousands of writing jobs from top companies worldwide.
Freelancer, Upwork, Fiverr – Freelance networks listing writing projects. Need to weed through junk but can find gems.
LinkedIn – Connect with editors, content managers, marketing directors. Pitch yourself rather than just applying to job posts.
Twitter – Follow top writers and publications in your niche. Engage and network with them.
Direct pitches – Pitch yourself to brands directly through website contact forms and cold emails.
I used a mix of job boards, freelance networks, social media, and direct pitches to source work early on.
Pitch Clients and Apply to Writing Jobs
Once you find open writing jobs, stand out by pitching clients tailored proposals:
Address them – “Hi [name], I saw your post on [site] and think I’d be a great fit to write for [brand].” Customize each pitch.
Hook them quickly – Summarize your expertise and achievements in a sentence or two at the top.
Highlight portfolio – Provide links to 3 relevant writing samples.
List skills – Mention your specialized knowledge, credentials, experience.
Explain your process – How you research, interview, optimize, deliver, etc.
Quote rates – Give pricing aligned to value you’ll provide. Offer options.
Be personable – Show enthusiasm and interest in their brand. Ask questions.
Follow up – If you don’t hear back in 3 days, send a polite follow up.
I send dozens of pitches weekly to land jobs. It’s a numbers game, but great clients do notice passionate proposals.
Negotiate Rates and Sign Contracts
Once a client wants to hire you, negotiate fair rates and sign detailed contracts before starting work:
Quote your rates – Price based on value, not hours. Avoid low-ball bids just to win work.
Be flexible – Offer per word, per post, and package pricing options.
Ask about budget – “What budget range do you have in mind for this project?”
Sell your expertise – Politely explain why your skills merit higher pricing.
Prioritize long-term clients – Offer discounts for recurring work vs. one-off gigs.
Sign contracts – Formal agreements protect both parties.
Require 50% upfront – Get deposit before you start writing to avoid payment issues.
Use escrow for big projects – Sites like SafeChain let you safely hold funds during project.
I made the mistake early on of not signing contracts and getting stiffed on payment. Now I treat freelancing like a business.
Deliver Incredible Work
Once hired, overdeliver and make yourself invaluable:
Ask lots of questions – Make sure you completely understand project goals, guidelines, tone, audience.
Thoroughly research – Dive deep into the topic using expert sources. Back up all key points.
Interview people – Get quotes that support the article narrative.
Send outline first – Let client review topical structure before writing full draft.
Send drafts in stages – E.g. share intro first, then body section by section.
Use readability tools – Like the Hemingway App to improve clarity.
Check SEO – Optimize and include target keywords.
Proofread thoroughly – Double check stats, facts, links, headers, etc.
Format cleanly – Use Markdown, bullet points, tables, etc. to make readable.
Meet deadlines – Take on work you can complete on schedule.
By overdelivering and making the writing process seamless, I built a reputation and loyal client base that kept assigning me more work.
Streamline Your Operations
Manage your freelance writing like a real business:
Track taxes – Keep records of income and deductions. Use an accountant.
Get invoices paid – Use PayPal, Wise, M-PESA. Send reminders if unpaid.
Automate billing – Use tools like Freshbooks to track time and auto-send invoices.
Build a team – Hire assistants for research, formatting, editing to scale.
Create contracts – Use templates from sites like Shake. Keep both parties protected.
Have clients sign NDAs – Ensure confidentiality when writing about sensitive topics.
Get business insurance – Covers liability if you accidentally misreport information. Gives clients peace of mind.
Be professional – Treat this like a business. Stay organized. Communicate clearly.
Systems I implemented allowed me to manage many clients seamlessly as a one-person operation.
Make Six Figures and Beyond as a Freelance Writer
If you stick to these strategies, you can realistically expect to:
Earn KSh5,000-10,000 per article as a beginner.
Hit KSh50,000 per month within your first year.
Make KSh500,000-1 million per year once established.
Charge KSh100,000+ per long project as top tier expert.
Earn multi-millions per year by managing a team and scaling.
It won’t happen overnight, but by relentlessly honing your portfolio, skills, and process, the income potential as a freelance writer is immense. The work is flexible, challenging, and immensely rewarding.
I can’t imagine doing any other career. I get paid to learn and write every day from anywhere in the world. Freelance writing has been the perfect profession for achieving location independence and financial freedom.
Hopefully this guide gave you tactics to land your first writing jobs and build a lucrative freelance writing career. Just stick with it, never stop improving, and six figures can absolutely be a reality.
Sarah, a 27-year-old Kenyan woman, earns KSh65,000 per month tutoring Chinese students online in English.
Here is her story and how she built her tutoring business in Kenya:
Sarah’s Background
Sarah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and Education from Kenyatta University.
She had always been passionate about teaching and helping others learn. After university, Sarah worked for 2 years as an English teacher at a local high school in Nairobi.
Although Sarah enjoyed teaching, she was frustrated with the low pay.
As a high school teacher, she was only earning KSh30,000 per month. This was barely enough to cover her rent and basic necessities.
Sarah started looking for ways to supplement her income.
Discovering Online Tutoring
One day, Sarah came across an article about online tutoring.
The article explained how tutors can earn money by teaching English online to students from China.
Intrigued, Sarah decided to do more research.
She learned that there is a huge demand for native English speakers to tutor Chinese students online.
Many Chinese parents want their children to learn English from an early age to increase future career prospects.
However, there is a shortage of English teachers in China.
Online tutoring platforms like VIPKid connect tutors from America, Canada, UK and other countries with students in China for live video lessons.
Tutors can make upwards of $20 USD per hour.
Getting Started with VIPKid
After researching several platforms, Sarah decided to apply to VIPKid.
The application process was rigorous and involved multiple interviews, mock teaching demonstrations and submission of documents.
VIPKid looks for tutors who are native English speakers, have a bachelor’s degree and some teaching experience.
It took Sarah 3 weeks from her initial application to get fully approved.
Once approved, Sarah had to complete VIPKid’s training program to learn their curriculum and teaching techniques.
She also had to set up her virtual classroom by getting proper lighting, a headset, props and rewards.
Building Her Tutoring Business
In the beginning, Sarah started slowly with just a few hours per week while keeping her high school teaching job.
She took any time slots she could get and taught a couple of students.
As Sarah gained experience and received positive reviews from parents, she was able to increase her bookings. Sarah maximized her schedule by opening up availability on weekends and late nights.
Within a few months, Sarah was consistently tutoring over 20 hours a week for VIPKid. She was making around KSh65,000 per month.
This was more than double her teaching salary.
Sarah decided to quit her high school teaching job and focus entirely on online tutoring. She aimed to continue increasing her student count and income.
Tips from Sarah’s VIPKid Success
Here are some of Sarah’s top tips for those interested in online tutoring:
Be professional – Students and parents expect professionalism. Dress appropriately, have neat background, be punctual.
Engage the students – Make lessons interactive and fun by using props, games, rewards. Keep students focused.
Communicate with parents – Build relationships with parents. Send progress reports. Ask for feedback.
Set a schedule – Open consistent availability slots. Students prefer seeing regular teachers.
Teach trial classes – Do free trial classes to get new students. Prepare demos targeted to different age groups.
Get certified – Get rewards like certificates and badges. Parents favor more qualified teachers.
Why Online Tutoring Works in Kenya
There are several appealing factors about online tutoring that make it a viable work from home opportunity:
Flexible – You set your own schedule and availability. No need to commute.
Lucrative – Tutoring rates are very favorable especially compared to local incomes.
Global demand – Large market of students worldwide seeking English learning.
Low barriers – Mainly need internet connection, computer, headset.
Rewarding – Teaching and assisting students’ progress is fulfilling.
Challenges Faced
Building a successful online tutoring business does come with some challenges as well:
Inconsistent bookings – Student demand fluctuates. Months like summer see lower bookings.
Technical issues – Dealing with connectivity problems or software glitches.
Time difference – Peak times in China are early morning or late evenings in Kenya.
Learning curve – Takes time to get used to teaching style and pacing required.
Ratings – Need to maintain 5-apple parent ratings or risk account freeze.
However, overall Sarah found it was completely worth overcoming these challenges. The pros outweighed the cons for her situation.
The Impact
The extra income from online tutoring has been life-changing for Sarah. Here are some of the benefits she gained:
Increased monthly income from KSh30k to KSh65k
Able to move to a nicer neighborhood
Built savings for the first time
Less financial stress day-to-day
Able to invest in further education
More time flexibility
Improved standard of living
Sarah hopes to continue growing her online tutoring business.
Her success shows that with the right guidance and effort, people anywhere can take advantage of digital income opportunities.
The future is very bright for online learning and remote work.
Leveraging online tutoring platforms can be tremendously empowering regardless of where you live.
Sarah’s story demonstrates that for motivated individuals, the internet can truly open doors to global opportunities.
As a university student in Nairobi, I was always strapped for cash. My part-time job as a waiter only provided so much spending money each month.
One evening, while scrolling through the fast-growing site Jiji.co.ke, I noticed people earning tidy profits reselling products purchased from Chinese suppliers. A lightbulb went off – why not give it a try myself as a side hustle?
Now, just 8 months after starting to resell part-time on Jiji while attending classes, I easily earn an extra Ksh50,000 every month working just 10 flexible hours per week.
Here’s an inside look at my journey leveraging this platform to launch a lucrative resale business that took my income to the next level as a student.
Finding a Profitable Niche
I didn’t want to blindly sell random stuff.
To succeed, I knew identifying a profitable, unsaturated resale niche was crucial.
After researching current top sellers and trends, I decided to focus on reselling affordable trendy women’s handbags sourced in bulk from Chinese manufacturers.
Why handbags?
Proven high buyer demand based on Jiji search data
Women love variety – opportunity to churn inventory
With a defined niche, it was time to source my first inventory batch.
Sourcing My Initial Inventory
I signed up for Alibaba and started connecting with handbag manufacturers and wholesalers in China.
Communicating with suppliers was tricky at first given the language barrier. I had to be extremely clear about quantities, specifications, shipping terms etc.
After conversations with over 50 suppliers, I finally found a few reliable ones able to deliver what I needed for a competitive price.
For my first Jiji order, I ordered 50 trendy handbags in 5 different styles for just Ksh15,000 including shipping. My plan was to resell these bags for Ksh1,000 – Ksh1,500 each to attract buyer interest.
My shipment arrived at my doorstep via DHL in just under 2 weeks. I was so excited unboxing my first inventory!
Creating High Converting Listings
While sourcing was crucial, selling the bags efficiently would make or break my side hustle. This meant creating listing pages that immediately caught buyer’s eyes and persuaded them to purchase.
For each of my 5 handbag styles, I made sure to have:
Big, bold photos – Making the bags look as visually appealing as possible. I added extra photos highlighting interior details, size for scale, different angles, etc.
Benefit-focused headlines – “Glamorous Work Tote to Make You the Office Style Queen” – emphasizing the emotional value proposition of the bag.
Precise details – Dimensions, materials, care instructions – building trust and anticipating buyer questions.
Punchy sales copy – Incorporating power words and psychological selling techniques tailored to the target female demographic.
Limited quantity – Showing just 2-3 of each style available with urgency wording like “Only 1 left!” or “Selling fast!” to spark action.
The goal was conveying irresistible value while making prospective buyers feel like they needed to act quickly before bags sold out.
Generating Sales Through Promotion
With my listings perfected, the next step was driving traffic to generate sales. As a new seller with no reviews, I had to get creative promoting my Jiji listings:
I ran targeted Facebook and Instagram ads spotlighting my bag listings. These pulled in traffic from Nairobi women interested in fashion items.
I printed flyers promoting my Jiji seller page and handed them out on campus. I offered a 10% discount code on the flyers to incentivize clicks.
I also took a grassroots approach, telling all my personal female friends about my new handbag sales side hustle. Several made purchases which kickstarted my reviews.
For early customers, I offered generous partial refunds in exchange for 5-star reviews and referral purchases to help build up my seller rating.
This promo push resulted in my entire first batch of 50 bags selling out in just 10 days!
Managing Logistics and Finances
My first wave of sales presented new operational challenges I had to overcome:
I negotiated discounted DHL rates for bulk shipping orders efficiently to buyers across Kenya.
I streamlined packaging to speed up order processing and lower costs.
I kept organized records of all sales, inventory, and shipments.
I transferred Jiji earnings weekly to my bank account and reinvested a portion to scale up inventory.
Establishing processes to handle logistics and cash flow effectively was pivotal so orders didn’t pile up and profits didn’t get eaten up by overhead.
Scaling Up to Bigger Monthly Profits
With proof of success, I decided to scale up my Jiji resale side hustle.
I reinvested 60% of profits to grow my inventory to 300 trendy handbags sourced from China in lots of 50 units.
I also expanded my selection from just 5 to 15 distinct handbag designs to cast a wider net.
My goal was listing 50 new bags per week to keep selection fresh and volume high.
This faster inventory turnover combined with refined listing optimization and promotions resulted in explosive growth:
Month 1
50 bags sold (Ksh25k revenue)
Month 2
150 bags sold (Ksh75k revenue)
Month 3
300 bags sold (Ksh150k revenue)
Month 4 (current)
400 bags sold (Ksh200k revenue)
My total monthly profit now exceeds Ksh50,000 after supplier costs!
All earned through just 10-15 weekly hours of managing listings, shipping orders, and interacting with my growing base of repeat buyers.
Top Tips for New Jiji Sellers in Kenya
For students or side hustlers in Kenya hoping to replicate my success leveraging Jiji to earn extra cash, here are my top tips:
Pick a niche – Become THE expert seller in an area with high demand and healthy margins.
Write irresistible listings – Well-written listings with great photos are crucial for converting browsers to buyers.
Prioritize page speed – Fast loading listings keep customers on your page and buying.
Focus on growing reviews – Positive ratings bring social proof. Offer buyers incentives to leave 5 stars.
Reinvest to scale – The more inventory you can churn, the faster revenue compounds.
Automate where possible – Streamline processing to save time as your business grows.
Directly engage buyers – Personalized communication builds loyalty with customers.
Starting my Jiji reselling side hustle is the best decision I made as a university student.
It provides me tremendous income potential with flexibility unmatched by conventional jobs.
Jiji and other digital markets have opened the door for Kenya’s aspiring young entrepreneurs to earn meaningful income online.
My story shows that ecommerce really can deliver financial freedom. The future is here – it’s time to take the leap!
Disclaimer: This is a submitted guest post. Views of the author are personal. Results aren’t typical.
As a university student in Kenya, extra income can make a huge difference in affording fees, essential expenses, and building savings.
But taking on a traditional part-time job can be difficult with a demanding course schedule. Fortunately, the rise of remote work and online platforms opens new possibilities for students to earn money on flexible terms.
To separate viable ideas from hype, I tested 7 popular ways Kenyan university students can realistically make money online.
Here’s an inside look at what worked, what didn’t, and key lessons from my experiments trying to profit.
1. Taking Online Surveys
Popular survey sites like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks pay users a small sum for completing market research questionnaires. Could they provide a passive income stream for a Kenyan student?
My Experiment: I spent 2 hours per day over 2 weeks maxing out surveys across top platforms. I answered questions honestly, targeting surveys for my demographic.
Results: I averaged about Ksh300 per week across the sites by diligently taking surveys during all my spare time. However, the repetitive questions became mind-numbing quickly.
Verdict: While reputable survey sites pay reliably, the tiny amounts per survey require hours of dedication for insignificant income. The boredom factor also makes this unattractive for students long-term. Surveys work better as a secondary income source than primary money maker.
2. Tutoring Online
With sites like Tutor.com, CheggTutor and Varsity Tutors, students in Kenya can register as tutors to give online classes in high demand subjects.
My Experiment: I signed up as a tutor on 2 top platforms in subjects like computer science, math, and English. I set competitive hourly rates and made myself available for bookings during evenings.
Results: It took 2 weeks before I received my first booking. After investing time applying and adjusting my tutor profile, I was able to secure a handful of students wanting 1-on-1 online tutoring in my niche tech subjects. I earned around Ksh1,500 per week tutoring 5-6 hours in the evenings.
Verdict: Online tutoring is a great option if you have advanced skills in a subject with high demand like mathematics, computer programming or academics. Expect a slow ramp up while building your tutor profile. But hourly pay can be rewarding.
3. Freelance Writing
Leveraging writing skills by creating blog posts, articles and other website content for global clients is an oft-cited option for students in Kenya seeking online income.
My Experiment: I signed up for top freelance platforms like Upwork and searched for entry-level writing jobs requiring minimal experience. I applied for over 20 gigs, emphasizing my ability to craft SEO-friendly content.
Results: My lack of robust writing samples and client history proved a barrier initially. However, I was able to land a few small freelance writing assignments by positioning myself as an enthusiastic student willing to learn. I earned around $250 total over 6 weeks.
Verdict: While further honing writing skills is required, cold outreach combined with taking on small paid writing gigs can help Kenyan students gain portfolio samples and reviews needed to win bigger assignments over time. This income stream has potential but the learning curve is steep.
4. Reselling Products Online
Arbitraging trendy items from platforms like Alibaba to resell locally on avenues like Facebook and Instagram is a popular online selling strategy. Could it work for a student in Kenya?
My Experiment: I ordered Ksh2,000 worth of jewelry and hair accessories in bulk from a Chinese supplier to resell in Kenya. On social media, I targeted fellow university students with ads for my accessories.
Results: Marketing the products locally proved trickier than expected as a student with no sales network or following. I sold around 25% of my inventory to friends which earned back roughly Ksh1,500. The time invested exceeded the minimal profits.
Verdict: For students, reselling physical products has potential when combined with a captive network or audience to market to. But profit margins can be slim given the logistics of sourcing, storing and distributing inventory. Likely better as a supplemental income stream only.
5. Affiliate Marketing
By promoting products on social media or blogs and earning commission on resulting sales, students can purportedly monetize their online networks through affiliate programs.
My Experiment: I created product recommendation posts on Facebook targeting student gear like laptops and apps. I applied for affiliate programs with Amazon, Best Buy and other major retailers.
Results: Even with call-to-action copy and detailed recommendations, the paltry web traffic I could drive as a student resulted in just 2 affiliate sales, totaling under Ksh500 in commission.
Verdict: Profiting from affiliate marketing without an existing audience and influence is extremely challenging. While adding affiliate links is passive, the affiliate income itself is in no way passive without a significant following to move products. Difficult hustle for students starting from scratch.
6. Selling Photos Online
Students often have access to cameras. Could they monetize photography skills by selling images online, like on Shutterstock or 500px?
My Experiment: I invested about 4 hours taking high quality photos of nature, street scenes, textures, buildings and other imagery around Nairobi with a DSLR camera. I edited images and then uploaded 30 photos across 3 leading photo marketplaces.
Results: Unfortunately, the sites are already saturated with millions of images. As a new contributor, my photos got lost in the mix. After 60 days, I had earned $0 in royalties despite keyword tagging and descriptions.
Verdict: While a passive income stream hypothetically, contributing photos to stock sites generally requires cohesive portfolios of hundreds of specialized, high-value images before seeing any meaningful sales. Not a realistic income stream for students casually uploading a few dozen amateur shots.
7. Developing Mobile Apps
A computer science student in theory could leverage coding skills to develop and sell mobile apps on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
My Experiment: I spent over 15 hours learning Android development basics and following tutorials to build a simple weather app. I customized it with a Kenyan theme and published it to the Google Play Store.
Results: My very basic app attracted just 36 users who downloaded it organically in the first month. After investing significant time learning to code, I had earned…$0.
Verdict: While a great resume builder, launching viable consumer apps from scratch requires months of dedicated development and design work, not to mention expert marketing. App stores are highly saturated making standing out difficult for student hobbyists. Monetizing mobile apps is extremely challenging without sufficient upfront capital.
Key Takeaways From My Experiments
While not every income idea proved fruitful in my tests, important lessons emerged:
Most income streams require deep commitment – Don’t expect passive earnings without investing serious time over months. Quick money is rare.
Play to existing skills and assets – Ideas like tutoring thrive when leveraging advanced knowledge while assets like a camera help with photography sales.
Understand the competition – Profitable concepts face saturation, especially in creative fields. Unique angles give advantage.
Have a marketing strategy – Without existing network or following, sales and promotion become challenging. Leverage niche communities.
Build foundational skills first – Time spent improving knowledge of writing, photography, ecommerce fundamentals etc always pays off before monetizing.
Consider combinations – Blending multiple approaches like reselling plus affiliate marketing provides more options to profit.
Final Takeaway
While some ideas proved underwhelming in isolation, I remain very optimistic about the potential for Kenyan university students to generate meaningful income online with the right diligence and strategy.
It comes down to identifying and combining opportunities that align with your unique skills, interests and assets, then creatively enhancing them through exceptional execution and promotion.
With mobility and flexibility that surpasses traditional employment, a passion-fueled online income stream tailored to your strengths can absolutely thrive. Don’t listen to limiting beliefs.
As my experiments reinforced, the internet offers unlimited possibilities to leverage your talents into part-time income and beyond. The key is discovering specifically how it can work for you with an open mind and persistent drive.
Keep exploring new digital income concepts with calculated testing. Pay attention to where fulfillment and skillset align.
Let the income grow organically from there through consistency and reinvesting gains.
With relentless creativity, the online world offers today’s enterprising university students in Kenya endless potential to supplement their education with hands-on entrepreneurship. Our economic futures start now.
