This archive report was first published on 5 January 2022.
With the 2022 Kenyan general election just around the corner, the country is gearing up for a fierce political campaign season. In exactly 216 days, Kenyans will head to the polls to elect their next leaders, and the campaigns have already reached a fever pitch.
As the election date draws near, political aspirants are set to splash money on their campaigns, creating a plethora of business opportunities for entrepreneurs. According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the withdrawal of campaign expenditure limits has paved the way for a free-for-all in campaign spending.
One of the most lucrative business opportunities in this season is data security. With the increasing use of online platforms for campaign purposes, data security has become a top priority for political parties and aspirants. To capitalize on this trend, entrepreneurs can offer data security services, including encryption, hashing, and tokenization, to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
Another profitable venture is bulk SMS services. With the widespread use of mobile phones in Kenya, bulk SMS has become an ideal campaign tool for politicians. According to Hubtech Limited, the majority of mobile phone users read messages within three minutes of receiving them, making it a highly effective way to reach a large audience. Entrepreneurs can buy bulk SMS at Ksh0.30 from service providers and sell it to political parties and aspirants.
Social media management and consultancy is another lucrative business opportunity in this season. With the increasing importance of social media in political campaigns, politicians are turning to social media managers to run their accounts and interact with their online communities. These managers are responsible for designing messages that fit the various online audiences and performing gate-keeping roles to ensure the security of sensitive information.
Photography and videography are also in high demand during this season. With the need for visibility and publicity, political parties and aspirants are hiring professional photographers and videographers to cover their campaigns and events. On average, the rate card for professional photography and videography ranges between Ksh50,000-100,000 per day, depending on the level of expertise and quality of work.
Lastly, logistics and monitoring services are also in high demand. With the need for proper planning and organization of itinerary for physical campaigns, entrepreneurs can offer logistics and monitoring services, including sourcing transportation, security, and coordinating meetings and press conferences.
