More technical trades and installations
Skilled trades with fewer competitors, adding to repairs (526–543) and installations (782–805).
What these methods share
- Certification: many of these need inspection approvals or training.
- Safety: heights, machinery and pressure systems are dangerous.
- Maintenance contracts: recurring work keeps income steady.
983. Lift (elevator) maintenance technician
What it is: Maintaining and repairing lifts in buildings. How it works: Scheduled maintenance → repairs → safety checks.
| Skills | Electrical and mechanical skills |
| Cost & equipment | Training, tools; work with an approved company |
| Where to find work | Office blocks, apartments, hospitals, malls |
| Payment | Monthly salary or contracts |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Join a lift company as a trainee. Pros: Growing with tall buildings. Cons & risks: Strict safety rules. Scam warning: Lifts must be inspected by approved persons; never skip checks. Kenya notes: Taller buildings in towns need more lift technicians.
984. Boiler operator and maintenance
What it is: Running and maintaining boilers in factories, hospitals and hotels. How it works: Operate shifts → maintain → keep logs → arrange statutory inspections.
| Skills | Boiler operation, safety |
| Cost & equipment | Certification |
| Where to find work | Factories, hospitals, hotels, laundries |
| Payment | Monthly salary |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Train and certify as a boiler operator. Pros: Steady industrial jobs. Cons & risks: Pressure system dangers. Scam warning: Follow statutory inspection rules. Kenya notes: DOSH oversees inspection of boilers and pressure vessels.
985. Weighing scale calibration and repair
What it is: Repairing and calibrating scales for shops, farms, factories and markets. How it works: Repair → calibrate → certify through proper channels.
| Skills | Electronics, metrology basics |
| Cost & equipment | Test weights, tools |
| Where to find work | Shops, butcheries, factories, cereal buyers |
| Payment | Per service |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Learn calibration; understand Weights and Measures verification rules. Pros: Every trader needs accurate scales. Cons & risks: Regulated work. Scam warning: Never adjust scales to cheat customers. Kenya notes: Scales used in trade must be verified under weights and measures law.
986. Mosquito net and window screen fitting
What it is: Making and fitting mosquito screens for windows and doors, and fitting nets. How it works: Measure → make frames or fittings → install.
| Skills | Fabrication, measuring |
| Cost & equipment | Tools, mesh, aluminium frames |
| Where to find work | Homes, hotels, schools, hospitals |
| Payment | Per window |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Start in malaria-prone areas; show samples. Pros: Health benefit. Cons & risks: Competition from DIY. Scam warning: Use durable mesh. Kenya notes: Coast and lake regions have high mosquito pressure.
987. Gabions and soil erosion control
What it is: Building gabion walls, terraces and erosion control structures. How it works: Survey → install gabions or terraces → plant cover.
| Skills | Construction, soil conservation |
| Cost & equipment | Gabion baskets, stones, tools |
| Where to find work | Farms, counties, road contractors, riverside properties |
| Payment | Per project |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Learn from county soil conservation officers. Pros: Protects land. Cons & risks: Heavy work. Scam warning: Follow engineering advice for big walls. Kenya notes: Hilly and riverside areas need erosion control.
988. Tree felling and arborist services
What it is: Pruning, felling and removing trees safely near homes and power lines. How it works: Assess → permits → cut safely → clear.
| Skills | Chainsaw skills, climbing, safety |
| Cost & equipment | Chainsaw, ropes, safety gear |
| Where to find work | Homes, estates, schools, counties |
| Payment | Per tree or job |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Train in chainsaw safety; get required felling permits. Pros: High-value jobs. Cons & risks: Dangerous work. Scam warning: Get permits: felling certain trees without approval is illegal. Kenya notes: County governments and KFS regulate tree felling.
989. Fish pond construction
What it is: Digging and lining fish ponds and installing water systems. How it works: Site survey → dig → line → fill → stock advice.
| Skills | Construction, aquaculture basics |
| Cost & equipment | Tools, liners, labour |
| Where to find work | Fish farmers, schools, institutions |
| Payment | Per pond |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Learn pond design from fisheries officers. Pros: Supports fish farming. Cons & risks: Seasonal. Scam warning: Use quality liners; leaks kill businesses. Kenya notes: Fish farming programmes create pond demand.
990. Water bottling plant
What it is: Treating and bottling drinking water for sale. How it works: Treat water → bottle → label → distribute.
| Skills | Water treatment, quality control |
| Cost & equipment | High: treatment equipment, bottling, KEBS certification |
| Where to find work | Shops, offices, events, schools |
| Payment | Per bottle |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Get KEBS certification and county approvals before selling. Pros: Daily consumption. Cons & risks: Strict quality standards. Scam warning: Never sell uncertified water. Kenya notes: Differs from a refill station (method 455): you bottle and distribute.
Summary
- Technical trades include lift maintenance, boilers, scale calibration, mosquito screens, gabions, arborist work, fish ponds and water bottling.
- Certification, permits and statutory inspections apply.
- Safety and honesty come first.
Check yourself
Who regulates verification of scales used in trade? (three words: Weights and ___)
Show answer
measures
Which agency regulates forests and tree felling with counties? (acronym)
Show answer
kfs
What certification does bottled water need? (acronym)
Show answer
kebs