Kids, family and personal services
Busy parents, growing families, older relatives and diaspora Kenyans need trusted help: after-school care, lessons, parties, baby gear, ceremonies and errands. These services run on trust, safety and reliability.
What these methods share
- Child safety first: background checks, safe spaces, first aid and clear rules. Kenya's Children Act (2022) protects children.
- Licences: child care centres and some activities need county licences and inspections.
- Trust and reviews: parents choose services recommended by other parents.
745. After-school club and homework centre
What it is: Supervised homework, reading and activities after school. How it works: Monthly fees → pick-up from school → homework → activities → parents collect.
| Skills | Teaching, child care |
| Cost & equipment | Safe space, materials, staff |
| Where to find work | Parents near schools and estates |
| Payment | Monthly fees |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Start in a safe, licensed space near a school; keep groups small. Pros: Recurring fees. Cons & risks: Child safety responsibility. Scam warning: Never take children without parents' written permission. Kenya notes: Working parents in towns pay for safe after-school care.
746. Swimming instructor
What it is: Teaching children and adults to swim. How it works: Lessons at hotel, school or private pools.
| Skills | Swimming, lifesaving and first aid certificates |
| Cost & equipment | Certification, kit |
| Where to find work | Schools, hotels, families |
| Payment | Per lesson or term |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Get lifesaving and first aid training; partner with a pool. Pros: High demand in holidays. Cons & risks: Safety responsibility. Scam warning: Insist on supervision rules; never teach without lifesaving training. Kenya notes: Many schools now include swimming; holiday programmes sell well.
747. Chess coaching
What it is: Teaching chess to children and adults. How it works: School clubs, private lessons, online classes, tournaments.
| Skills | Strong chess skills, teaching |
| Cost & equipment | Boards, online platform |
| Where to find work | Schools, parents, clubs |
| Payment | Per lesson or term |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Start a school club; join the chess federation's events. Pros: Builds thinking skills; growing popularity. Cons & risks: Small market. Scam warning: As usual. Kenya notes: School chess has grown with national competitions.
748. Music lessons for children
What it is: Teaching piano, keyboard, guitar, violin or voice. How it works: Home visits, studio or school lessons; exams and recitals.
| Skills | Instrument skills, teaching |
| Cost & equipment | Instruments |
| Where to find work | Parents, schools, churches |
| Payment | Per lesson or term |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Offer trial lessons; prepare students for graded exams. Pros: Recurring lessons. Cons & risks: Scheduling around school. Scam warning: As usual. Kenya notes: Graded music exams are popular with parents.
749. Kids' party planning
What it is: Planning children's birthday parties: themes, cake, decor, entertainment, food. How it works: Packages → planning → setup → party → cleanup.
| Skills | Organisation, creativity |
| Cost & equipment | Decor stock, supplier network |
| Where to find work | Parents, schools, estates |
| Payment | Per party package |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Start with friends' parties; post photos. Pros: Fun and visible. Cons & risks: Weekend work. Scam warning: Get deposits and confirm guest numbers. Kenya notes: Partner with party entertainers (method 493).
750. Children's soft play and indoor play centre
What it is: A safe indoor play space with soft play equipment. How it works: Entry fees, birthday party bookings, café sales.
| Skills | Business management, child safety |
| Cost & equipment | Space, safe equipment, licences, staff |
| Where to find work | Families, schools, malls |
| Payment | Entry fees |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Start small in a mall or estate centre; prioritise safety and cleanliness. Pros: Steady weekend income. Cons & risks: High setup costs. Scam warning: Inspect equipment daily; injuries damage reputations. Kenya notes: Malls and estates lack safe play spaces for younger children.
751. Baby gear rental
What it is: Renting prams, car seats, cots and play pens to visitors and parents. How it works: Rent by day or week; clean and deliver.
| Skills | Customer service, hygiene |
| Cost & equipment | Quality baby gear, cleaning supplies |
| Where to find work | Visiting diaspora families, tourists, parents |
| Payment | Rental fees |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Start with car seats and cots; partner with hotels and Airbnbs. Pros: Low competition. Cons & risks: Damage and hygiene. Scam warning: Use safe, undamaged car seats only; check expiry dates. Kenya notes: Diaspora families visiting in December need baby gear.
752. Back-to-school services (book covering, labels, supplies)
What it is: Covering books, labelling items and supplying school lists. How it works: Parents send lists → you buy, cover and label → deliver.
| Skills | Organisation |
| Cost & equipment | Covering materials, label printer |
| Where to find work | Parents, schools |
| Payment | Per list or service |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Advertise before term starts in estate groups. Pros: Seasonal peaks. Cons & risks: Seasonal only. Scam warning: As usual. Kenya notes: January, May and September are peak seasons.
753. Senior day care and companionship
What it is: Day programmes and companionship for older people. How it works: Daily or weekly visits, activities, meals, outings.
| Skills | Care skills, patience |
| Cost & equipment | Safe space, transport |
| Where to find work | Families, especially diaspora |
| Payment | Weekly or monthly fees |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Get caregiving and first aid training; start with home visits. Pros: Meaningful. Cons & risks: Responsibility for vulnerable people. Scam warning: Never take control of elders' money or documents. Kenya notes: Diaspora children pay for regular visits and updates for parents in Kenya.
754. Birth companion (doula) support
What it is: Non-medical emotional and practical support before, during and after birth. How it works: Prenatal sessions → labour support → postnatal visits.
| Skills | Doula training, empathy |
| Cost & equipment | Training |
| Where to find work | Expectant parents, clinics |
| Payment | Per package |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Train as a doula; work alongside midwives and doctors, not instead of them. Pros: Rewarding. Cons & risks: On-call at odd hours. Scam warning: Never give medical advice or replace a midwife or doctor. Kenya notes: Medical care is for licensed midwives, nurses and doctors; doulas provide support only.
755. Traditional ceremony planning (dowry, ruracio, ayie)
What it is: Coordinating traditional ceremonies: venue, tents, catering, decor, programme. How it works: Meet families → plan → coordinate suppliers → run the day.
| Skills | Event planning, cultural knowledge |
| Cost & equipment | Supplier network |
| Where to find work | Families planning ceremonies |
| Payment | Planning fees |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Start with your community's ceremonies; respect elders' roles. Pros: Growing demand. Cons & risks: Family disagreements. Scam warning: Agree scope and fees with the family in writing. Kenya notes: Ceremonies such as ruracio (Kikuyu) and ayie (Luo) increasingly use planners.
756. Personal shopper and gift sourcing
What it is: Shopping on behalf of busy clients and diaspora families. How it works: Client list → shop → deliver with receipts.
| Skills | Organisation, honesty |
| Cost & equipment | Phone, transport |
| Where to find work | Busy professionals, diaspora, corporates |
| Payment | Service fee or percentage |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Start with friends and family; always share receipts. Pros: Low capital. Cons & risks: Trust is everything. Scam warning: Never mark up receipts; share photos and receipts. Kenya notes: Diaspora clients send money for gifts, groceries and items for relatives.
757. House sitting
What it is: Living in or checking on homes while owners travel. How it works: Agreed visits or stays; security checks; plants and pets.
| Skills | Reliability |
| Cost & equipment | References |
| Where to find work | Travellers, diaspora homeowners |
| Payment | Per day or month |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Build references; use written agreements. Pros: Low cost. Cons & risks: Liability. Scam warning: Never let others into the house without permission. Kenya notes: Popular with homeowners who travel abroad.
758. Diaspora family concierge
What it is: A trusted local helper for Kenyans abroad: errands, visits, payments, paperwork. How it works: Monthly retainer or per task; reports with photos.
| Skills | Organisation, honesty |
| Cost & equipment | Phone, transport |
| Where to find work | Kenyans abroad |
| Payment | Retainer or per task |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Start with one or two families; send clear reports. Pros: Recurring. Cons & risks: Trust and accountability. Scam warning: Keep receipts and photo evidence for every task. Kenya notes: Pairs with construction monitoring (method 363) and procurement (method 519).
Summary
- Kids, family and personal services include after-school clubs, swimming, chess, music lessons, parties, play centres, baby gear rental, school prep, senior care, doula support, ceremony planning, personal shopping, house sitting and diaspora concierge.
- Child safety and trust come first; follow the Children Act and licence rules.
- Clear agreements and receipts build long-term clients.
Check yourself
Which Kenyan law, updated in 2022, protects children? (two words)
Show answer
children act
Should a doula give medical advice? (yes or no)
Show answer
no
What should you always share when shopping for clients? (one word)
Show answer
receipts