Simple tasks being done right now via smartphone, with clear steps on how to start and get paid.

1 Anonymous Chat Operator

Many international companies hire people to reply to text messages on fantasy, dating, or customer support platforms.

How to start: Apply on mobile-friendly platforms that hire chat operators (where you send messages under a persona). You take a basic typing and English test on your phone.

How to make money: You log into their website through your phone’s browser (like Chrome). You get paid a few cents per message you send, and earnings are sent weekly or monthly via mobile money or bank transfer.

2 WhatsApp Status Reselling (Digital Broker)

You don't need to own a shop; you just need to post photos.

How to start: Walk into wholesale shops in areas like Eastleigh, Kamukunji, or Dubois Road. Take clear photos of shoes, bags, or clothes with your phone. Ask the shop owner for the wholesale price.

How to make money: Post these photos on your WhatsApp Status and local Facebook groups with a markup (e.g., if the shoe is Ksh 1,000, you post it for Ksh 1,500). When a buyer sends you the Ksh 1,500 via M-Pesa, you pay the shopkeeper, arrange a rider (Nduthi) to deliver it, and keep your Ksh 500 profit.

3 Jiji Picture Broker

Similar to WhatsApp reselling, but using Kenya’s biggest classifieds app.

How to start: Download the Jiji app. Partner with a local electronics or furniture seller. Take great pictures of their items on your phone.

How to make money: Post the items on Jiji. When a buyer calls you, you direct them to the shop or deliver the item. The shop owner gives you a commission for bringing the customer.

4 CapCut Video Editing for TikTokers

Many people record videos but don't know how to add music or text.

How to start: Download the free CapCut app on your phone. Play around with it to learn how to trim videos, add auto-captions, and put trending music over the video.

How to make money: Message local businesses or aspiring TikTokers. Tell them, "Send me your raw videos on WhatsApp, and I will edit them into nice TikToks." Charge them a flat fee per edited video sent back to them.

5 AI Image Labeling (Micro-tasking)

Tech companies need humans to look at pictures and tell their AI what is in the photo.

How to start: Download apps like Toloka or search for mobile-friendly micro-task sites. Sign up using your phone number or email.

How to make money: The app will show you a picture and ask simple questions (e.g., "Is there a car in this photo?"). You tap "Yes" or "No." You earn a small amount in dollars for every task, which adds up and can be withdrawn via PayPal or Skrill to M-Pesa.

6 Conversational Swahili Partner

Foreigners learning Swahili want to practice speaking with a real Kenyan. You don't need to be a teacher; you just need to chat.

How to start: Create a profile on the iTalki or Preply app using your phone. List yourself as a "Community Tutor" for Swahili.

How to make money: Students book a 30-minute or 1-hour session with you. You use WhatsApp or Skype on your phone to call them, chat about daily life, correct their pronunciation, and get paid per hour.

7 Voice Note Typing (Transcription)

Busy business owners in Kenya often get long WhatsApp voice notes they don't have time to listen to, or they need voice notes turned into text.

How to start: Advertise on local Facebook groups that you offer fast audio-to-text typing.

How to make money: A client forwards you a WhatsApp voice note. You listen to it on your phone and type out exactly what is said in a WhatsApp message back to them. Charge per minute of audio.

8 WhatsApp Group Moderator

People who run paid Telegram or WhatsApp groups (like betting tips, forex, or premium content) need someone to remove spam and answer basic questions.

How to start: Join active groups and message the admins directly, offering to help keep the group clean from spammers for a small fee.

How to make money: The admin pays you a weekly or monthly M-Pesa wage to delete bad links, remove rude people, and welcome new members using your phone.

9 Social Media Engagement Worker

Some people will pay you just to like and comment on their posts so they look more popular.

How to start: Sign up on mobile-friendly sites like SproutGigs or TimeBucks using your phone's browser.

How to make money: You will see a list of tasks like "Go to this YouTube video, watch for 1 minute, and leave a nice comment." You complete the task, take a screenshot on your phone as proof, upload it, and get paid a few cents per task.

10 Digital Errand Runner (Sourcing for Diaspora)

Kenyans living abroad (Diaspora) often want to buy things back home (like land, building materials, or local foods) but don't trust their relatives.

How to start: Post in Facebook groups targeting Kenyans in the US or UK (e.g., "Kenyans in Dallas"). Offer your services as an honest "boots on the ground" contact.

How to make money: They send you money. You use your phone to navigate to the location, take live videos via WhatsApp video call showing them the goods, make the purchase, organize shipping, and take a daily facilitation fee.

11 Virtual Accountability Partner

People struggle to wake up early, drink water, or go to the gym, and they want someone to force them to do it.

How to start: Post your services on Fiverr or Twitter (X) offering to be a strict accountability partner.

How to make money: Clients abroad pay you a weekly fee. You use WhatsApp to text or call them at specific times (e.g., "Send me a photo of your gym shoes right now!").

12 Meme Creator for Brands

Kenyans love humor, and local businesses know that memes sell products.

How to start: Use a free meme generator app or Canva on your phone. Take trending Kenyan photos and put funny text on them that promotes a specific product.

How to make money: Message local brands on Instagram with a free meme you made for them. If they post it and get likes, charge them to make 5 or 10 memes a week for their page.

13 Taking and Selling Local Photos

Stock photo websites need real pictures of African daily life (matatus, local food, markets).

How to start: Download apps like Foap or Shutterstock Contributor. Ensure your phone camera lens is clean and take bright, clear photos of everyday things (no faces without permission).

How to make money: Upload the photos via the app. When a magazine or website abroad buys your photo to use in an article, the app pays you a percentage of the sale.

14 Paid Mobile Surveys

Companies want to know what Kenyans think about certain brands of soap, banks, or politics.

How to start: Download apps like GeoPoll or Swagbucks, or sign up for Triaba Kenya.

How to make money: You receive a notification on your phone when a survey is ready. You tap multiple-choice answers for 5-10 minutes and get rewarded with mobile airtime or direct cash to M-Pesa.

15 Voice Recording for AI

Tech companies need to teach AI how to understand different accents, including Kenyan English and Swahili.

How to start: Look for "Audio Collection" tasks on platforms like Appen or Toloka via your mobile browser.

How to make money: The platform will show you a sentence on your phone screen. You hold down the record button, read the sentence out loud in a quiet room, hit submit, and get paid for the batch of recordings.

16 Influencer Comment Moderator

Big Kenyan celebrities and influencers get thousands of comments, many of which are hateful or spam.

How to start: Direct message influencers or their managers on Instagram. Offer to clean up their comment sections.

How to make money: They give your account moderator access. You spend an hour a day on your phone scrolling through their comments, deleting insults, blocking spam, and pinning good comments for a monthly fee.

17 TikTok Account Growing (Farming)

Some businesses want to buy a TikTok account that already has 1,000 followers so they can go live immediately.

How to start: Create a TikTok account on your phone centered around a viral topic (like funny cat videos, motivational quotes, or movie clips). Post 3 times a day consistently until you hit 1,000 to 5,000 followers.

How to make money: Sell the login details of the account to local businesses or individuals looking for a head start.

18 Local Price Checker

People from outside Nairobi (or outside the country) want to know the true price of items in places like Gikomba or Kamukunji without traveling there.

How to start: Let people know on Facebook or WhatsApp that you are a market scout.

How to make money: A client pays you a small fee (e.g., Ksh 500). You walk into the market, use your phone to take pictures of the requested items (like bales of clothes), record voice notes of the prices, and send the report back to them.

19 Audio Testing and Reviewing

App developers need to know if the audio on their new mobile game or app works correctly.

How to start: Sign up for mobile testing sites like Tester Work or UserTesting.

How to make money: You download a test app on your phone, put on your earphones, and play the game or use the app for 15 minutes. You then type out a short review on your phone about your experience and get paid.

20 App Downloading and Rating

New app developers need people to download their apps to boost them in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

How to start: Join micro-tasking sites (like SproutGigs) on your mobile browser.

How to make money: The task will say, "Download this app, open it for 2 minutes, and leave a 5-star review." You do exactly that using your phone, submit a screenshot, and earn your money.