This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
Moonlighting in response to pandemic pain ¶
Published on July 9, 2020
With the economic effects of Covid-19 still being felt, many employers have had to issue redundancy notices and lay off their workers. This has left millions without a livelihood, and the future looks uncertain.
However, some professionals are turning to moonlighting as a way to cushion themselves against job loss. Four young professionals share their experiences of how they got into side jobs and how they feel about their financial security.
Richard Mjomba, a 24-year-old communication professional, is also a fashion designer and the founder of a startup delivery company. He felt insecure in his job and decided to quit to start his own business. 'I've had a side hustle for as long as I've been working,' he says. 'The biggest challenge has always been employers who expect my complete loyalty.'
Jane Muragu, a 23-year-old law student at Strathmore University, is also a hockey player and the captain of her school team. She runs a teenage girls' empowerment initiative called Girls' Boardroom and works as an intern at a Nairobi-based law firm. 'As a full-time student and a sportswoman, my hands are often full,' she says. 'Still, I have bills to pay, and this pushed me to source for side jobs to supplement the pocket money I get from my parents.'
IVYNNIE MICHELLE OKOTH, 24, CEO of KAIRO GROUP LIMITED, has a company that imports various goods such as furniture, clothing, footwear, and accessories for sale. She is also an accounting expert and helps SMEs with bookkeeping and earns extra income while at it. 'The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly affected traders,' she says. 'Consumer spending has declined as many people have either been sent on unpaid leave or lost jobs.'
Richard Roy, a 26-year-old marketer, is also a business owner who imports goods for sale. He feels more secure with his business and is concerned about growing it. 'It is dreadful to imagine how things would be if I had only one source of income especially during this pandemic,' he says. 'A pay cut would be even more difficult to endure.'
