Kenyan Gig Workers Warned of Rising Online Job Scams

Kenyan freelancers have been urged to take precautions against online job scams as more people turn to the gig economy for income.

About 1.2 million Kenyans are currently engaged in online gig work, according to figures from the KICTANet Think Tank. The work ranges from software services to remote administrative support, but the growth of the sector has also created opportunities for fraudsters to target job seekers.

Speaking at a Co-op Bank Youth Forum on 25 September, Grace Mureithi, Director of Customer Success at DreamStart Labs, advised freelancers to watch for common signs of fraudulent job offers. These include vague job descriptions, unrealistic pay, requests for upfront fees and pressure to accept offers quickly.

“Make sure you have a signed contract before you start,” Mureithi said. She also advised freelancers to keep communication and payments on trusted platforms until they have established a reliable relationship with a client.

Mureithi said scammers often offer unusually high payments for simple tasks before asking workers to pay money to begin the job. She urged freelancers to avoid such offers and build their credibility through clear profiles and strong portfolios.

“For you to work in the gig economy, you must learn to package your skills,” she said. Rather than simply listing software they can use, freelancers should demonstrate how their skills can help businesses solve specific problems.

Examples of legitimate freelance work include managing communication campaigns, bookkeeping during tax season, supporting product launches and providing customer support. Mureithi advised beginners to focus on one or two reliable platforms instead of trying to work across several sites at once.

Freelancers without previous paid experience can also create sample projects to demonstrate their abilities. Mureithi said she faced repeated rejections early in her career before improving her profile by studying successful proposals.

She said sustained growth in the global gig economy depends on the quality of work delivered, proper documentation and positive client reviews. The advice comes as more young Kenyans turn to digital platforms for income.