This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
Kenya has made significant strides in embracing the digital age, with the country's internet economy growing to $109 million in 2019. This growth has created new opportunities for employment, with a total of 36,573 Kenyans employed online.
The main drivers of this growth are online ride-hailing platforms, which generated $45 million, and online professional work platforms, which generated $55 million. Online rentals and blue-collar matchmaking platforms also contributed to the growth, earning $5 million and $3 million respectively.
According to a report by Youth Impact Labs, the Kenyan internet economy is expected to grow by 33 percent over the next five years, reaching $345 million in 2023. This growth is expected to create almost 100,000 jobs, representing a growth rate of 27 percent.
Key sectors expected to drive growth include ride-hailing platforms, which are expected to experience an average annual growth rate of 37 percent, and blue-collar matchmaking platforms, which are expected to experience an average annual growth rate of 63 percent.
As Kenya continues to digitize, it is essential to address the challenges facing rural communities, including poor network coverage, low awareness, and trust in online work. By addressing these challenges, Kenya can unlock the full potential of its internet economy and create more opportunities for employment and economic growth.
“New industries are being created, and a variety of new products and services are being developed for both the Kenyan and the increasingly accessible global market. The adoption of new technologies is also creating well-paying jobs for professionals of diverse backgrounds, translating into improvement in quality of life, increased connectedness, and other auxiliary benefits to citizens,” said Joe Mucheru, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology.
