Web, software and tech services
Tech skills are among the best-paid earning methods, locally and internationally. Kenyan businesses need websites, M-Pesa payments, systems and IT support; international clients hire developers, testers and specialists remotely. Most methods here need a laptop and months of learning, but the free hub lessons and career roadmaps take you through them.
What these methods share
- Proof beats certificates: a portfolio of working projects (Build real projects).
- Security and ethics: protect client data, never leave secrets in code, and only test systems you're authorised to test.
- Contracts and deposits for direct clients (discovery, quotes and contracts).
160. Business website development
What it is: Building websites for businesses, schools, churches and organisations. How it works: Brief → design → build (code or WordPress) → content → launch → training and care plan.
| Skills | HTML, CSS, JavaScript or WordPress; hosting; SEO basics |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, internet |
| Where to find work | Local businesses, referrals, freelance platforms, agencies |
| Payment | Project fee with deposits; M-Pesa/bank |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium–high |
| Time to first income | Months (learning) then weeks per project |
How to start: Follow the web developer roadmap and the business website project. Pros: Huge local demand. Cons & risks: Scope creep; clients slow with content. Scam warning: Overpayment cheque scams from "international clients". Kenya notes: See web design business.
161. WordPress development and customisation
What it is: Building and customising WordPress sites, themes and plugins. How it works: Themes, page builders or custom code; plugin setup; performance and security.
| Skills | WordPress, PHP basics, CSS |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop; premium themes/plugins optional |
| Where to find work | SMEs, bloggers, agencies, freelance marketplaces |
| Payment | Project or hourly |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: WordPress basics; build 3 sample sites. Pros: Large market. Cons & risks: Nulled (pirated) themes contain malware; use licensed ones. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Many Kenyan SMEs choose WordPress for affordability.
162. E-commerce store development
What it is: Building online shops with carts, payments and order management (WooCommerce, Shopify or custom). How it works: Product setup → payments (M-Pesa, cards) → delivery options → launch → training.
| Skills | Web development, payment integration (e-commerce project) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Retailers, fashion brands, manufacturers |
| Payment | Project fee + maintenance |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months then weeks |
How to start: Build a demo store with M-Pesa sandbox checkout. Pros: High-value projects. Cons & risks: Payment issues must be handled carefully. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: M-Pesa checkout is a must-have for Kenyan shops.
163. M-Pesa and payment integration
What it is: Integrating M-Pesa (Daraja: STK push, C2B, B2C), cards and PayPal into websites, apps and systems. How it works: Sandbox development → secure callbacks → go-live with the business's paybill/till.
| Skills | Back-end development, APIs, security (M-Pesa project) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, hosting with HTTPS |
| Where to find work | Businesses, developers, agencies, start-ups |
| Payment | Per integration or project |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months then weeks |
How to start: Build a working sandbox demo and document it. Pros: Specialist local demand. Cons & risks: Payment bugs cost clients money; test thoroughly. Scam warning: Never handle clients' money directly through your own accounts. Kenya notes: One of the most requested tech skills in Kenya.
164. Custom web systems (school, inventory, booking, SACCO)
What it is: Building database-driven systems for specific business needs. How it works: Requirements → design → development → testing → deployment → support contract.
| Skills | Full-stack development, databases, security |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, hosting |
| Where to find work | Schools, SACCOs, clinics, shops, NGOs |
| Payment | Milestone payments + maintenance |
| Realistic earnings | Medium to high |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Build one of the project guides to production quality. Pros: Large, recurring contracts. Cons & risks: Complex; long-term support obligations. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Local systems with M-Pesa and SMS integration have strong demand.
165. Mobile app development
What it is: Building Android/iOS apps with Flutter, Kotlin or React Native. How it works: Planning → UI → development → back-end → testing → store publishing.
| Skills | See the mobile roadmap |
| Cost & equipment | Capable laptop; Play Store developer fee |
| Where to find work | Start-ups, businesses, agencies, freelance platforms |
| Payment | Project/milestones or salary |
| Realistic earnings | Medium to high |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Publish one app; build the expense tracker project. Pros: High value. Cons & risks: Long projects; maintenance. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Fintech, delivery and booking apps are common local requests.
166. API and back-end development
What it is: Building servers and APIs that power apps and websites. How it works: API design → implementation → security → tests → deployment.
| Skills | Node, PHP, Python or Go; databases; auth (REST API project) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Start-ups, agencies, international remote roles |
| Payment | Hourly/project/salary |
| Realistic earnings | Medium to high |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Publish a documented API project on GitHub. Pros: Well-paid remote work. Cons & risks: Competitive international market. Scam warning: Fake "job offers" asking you to run suspicious code or pay for equipment. Kenya notes: Kenyan developers work remotely for global companies.
167. Website maintenance and care plans
What it is: Monthly updates, backups, security monitoring, uptime checks and small edits for existing websites. How it works: Monthly retainer with a defined list of tasks and a report.
| Skills | WordPress/hosting, security basics (website maintenance) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Your past clients, businesses with neglected sites, agencies |
| Payment | Monthly retainer |
| Realistic earnings | Low per site; medium with many sites |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Offer care plans to every website client. Pros: Recurring income. Cons & risks: Responsibility when sites break. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Many Kenyan websites are abandoned after launch and get hacked.
168. Website speed optimisation
What it is: Making slow websites load faster (images, caching, code, hosting). How it works: Audit with Lighthouse → fixes → before/after report.
| Skills | Web performance (website speed) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Site owners, agencies, freelance platforms |
| Payment | Per site |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Optimise your own site; show score improvements. Pros: Clear, measurable results. Cons & risks: Some hosting limits can't be fixed. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Mobile-data users in Kenya benefit hugely from fast sites.
169. Website security cleanup (hacked sites)
What it is: Removing malware from hacked websites, closing vulnerabilities and hardening security. How it works: Backup → scan → clean files and database → update → secure → monitor.
| Skills | Web security, server access, WordPress internals |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, security tools |
| Where to find work | Site owners, hosting companies, agencies |
| Payment | Per cleanup + monthly protection |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Learn web security and practise on test sites you own. Pros: Urgent, valued service. Cons & risks: Responsibility; re-infections. Scam warning: Only work on sites you're authorised to access. Kenya notes: Many Kenyan SME sites run outdated plugins and get hacked.
170. Hosting and domain reselling
What it is: Selling web hosting, domains and email accounts to clients, often bundled with setup. How it works: Reseller accounts from hosting providers; you bill clients annually.
| Skills | Hosting management, DNS (DNS records), customer support |
| Cost & equipment | Reseller account fees |
| Where to find work | Your web clients, SMEs |
| Payment | Annual billing |
| Realistic earnings | Low (adds up with many clients) |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Use a reputable reseller plan; register domains in clients' names. Pros: Recurring revenue. Cons & risks: You handle support when servers fail. Scam warning: Never hold clients' domains hostage; it's unethical and damages trust. Kenya notes: .co.ke domains are registered through accredited registrars.
171. Business email and Google Workspace / Microsoft 365 setup
What it is: Setting up professional email, shared drives and user accounts for organisations. How it works: Domain verification → users → email migration → training.
| Skills | DNS, admin consoles, user training |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | SMEs, schools, NGOs |
| Payment | Setup fee + support |
| Realistic earnings | Low to low–medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Set up professional email for your own domain first. Pros: Quick projects. Cons & risks: Migration mistakes can lose email. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Schools and SMEs moving from Gmail addresses to professional domains.
172. IT support and computer repair
What it is: Fixing computers, installing software, upgrading hardware, removing malware and setting up printers. How it works: Walk-in, on-site or remote support; per job or monthly contracts.
| Skills | Hardware and Windows troubleshooting (computer maintenance) |
| Cost & equipment | Toolkit, spare parts, bootable USBs |
| Where to find work | Homes, offices, schools, cyber cafés |
| Payment | Per job or monthly |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Follow the IT support roadmap. Pros: Constant demand. Cons & risks: Responsibility for client data. Scam warning: Don't install pirated software for clients. Kenya notes: Laptop upgrades (SSD, RAM) are popular and affordable services.
173. Network installation (offices, schools, hotspots)
What it is: Installing and configuring wired and Wi-Fi networks, routers and access points. How it works: Site survey → design → cabling → configuration → testing → documentation.
| Skills | Networking (networking subject) |
| Cost & equipment | Crimping tools, tester, laptop |
| Where to find work | Offices, schools, hotels, apartments |
| Payment | Project fee |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Practise in Packet Tracer; assist an installer. Pros: Practical, local demand. Cons & risks: Physical work; equipment costs. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Wi-Fi hotspot billing systems for estates are popular (Wi-Fi hotspot billing).
174. CCTV installation and security systems
What it is: Installing cameras, recorders and remote viewing for homes and businesses. How it works: Site assessment → equipment → installation → app setup → maintenance.
| Skills | Electrical basics, networking, installation safety |
| Cost & equipment | Tools, ladder, test equipment |
| Where to find work | Homes, shops, schools, estates |
| Payment | Project fee + maintenance |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Train with an experienced installer; learn privacy obligations. Pros: High demand. Cons & risks: Working at heights; privacy laws. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Follow data protection guidance on CCTV (signage, retention).
175. Software testing (QA)
What it is: Testing software for bugs, writing test cases and automated tests. How it works: Manual testing, then automation (Selenium, Playwright, Cypress).
| Skills | Attention to detail, test design, coding for automation |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Software companies, crowdtesting platforms, remote jobs |
| Payment | Hourly, project or salary |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Learn testing basics; automate tests for a demo site. Pros: Good entry into tech. Cons & risks: Manual testing pays less than automation. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Kenyan tech companies hire QA engineers.
176. Data analysis and dashboards
What it is: Analysing business data and building reports and dashboards. How it works: Clean data → analyse → visualise → recommendations.
| Skills | Excel, SQL, Power BI/Looker Studio, Python (data analyst roadmap) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | SMEs, NGOs, researchers, freelance platforms |
| Payment | Project/hourly |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Complete the data analysis project. Pros: Growing demand. Cons & risks: Data privacy obligations. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: NGOs need M&E dashboards; SMEs need sales reports.
177. Excel and spreadsheet automation services
What it is: Building templates, formulas, dashboards and macros that save businesses time. How it works: Understand the workflow → build the spreadsheet → train the client.
| Skills | Advanced Excel/Sheets (Excel subject), macros or Apps Script |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | SMEs, accountants, schools, NGOs |
| Payment | Per project |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Build templates (stock records, fee tracking, payroll helpers) as samples. Pros: Practical value. Cons & risks: Clients may break formulas; protect sheets. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Chamas, schools and shops run on spreadsheets.
178. No-code automation and AI workflow building
What it is: Connecting apps (forms, sheets, email, WhatsApp, CRMs) to automate tasks, including AI steps. How it works: Map the workflow → build automations → test → document.
| Skills | Automation tools (AI automation), logic |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop; tool subscriptions (often client-paid) |
| Where to find work | SMEs, coaches, agencies, freelance platforms |
| Payment | Project + maintenance |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Automate a real workflow (e.g. form → sheet → email receipt) and record a demo. Pros: Growing demand. Cons & risks: Tools change; data privacy. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Businesses automating M-Pesa records, orders and customer follow-ups.
179. AI chatbot and assistant setup for businesses
What it is: Building customer-service chatbots or internal assistants using AI platforms, trained on a business's information. How it works: Gather FAQs/documents → configure the bot → test → deploy on website or WhatsApp (via approved providers) → monitor.
| Skills | AI tools, prompt design (build with AI APIs), testing |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop; API/platform costs (client-paid) |
| Where to find work | SMEs, schools, clinics, e-commerce |
| Payment | Setup + monthly |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Build a demo bot for a fictional business; show accurate answers and safe refusals. Pros: New, in-demand service. Cons & risks: Wrong answers harm clients; keep humans in the loop. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Bilingual English/Kiswahili bots stand out.
180. Database design and administration
What it is: Designing, optimising, backing up and maintaining databases. How it works: Schema design, indexing, backups, performance tuning.
| Skills | SQL (SQL subject), MySQL/PostgreSQL |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Companies, developers, agencies |
| Payment | Project/retainer/salary |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Design databases for the project guides; learn backups and indexes. Pros: Core skill. Cons & risks: Responsibility for critical data. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: SACCOs and schools need reliable data management.
181. Cloud and DevOps services
What it is: Deploying applications on cloud servers, setting up CI/CD, monitoring and containers. How it works: Server setup → deployment pipelines → monitoring → backups.
| Skills | Linux (Linux subject), cloud platforms, Git and CI |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop; cloud accounts |
| Where to find work | Start-ups, agencies, remote roles |
| Payment | Hourly/project/salary |
| Realistic earnings | Medium to high |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Deploy your projects on a VPS; automate with GitHub Actions. Pros: Well-paid. Cons & risks: Mistakes can cause outages or big bills. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Growing demand as Kenyan companies move to cloud.
182. Cybersecurity services (authorised testing and awareness training)
What it is: Security assessments, vulnerability testing with permission, and staff awareness training. How it works: Scoped written agreements → testing/training → reports.
| Skills | See the cybersecurity roadmap |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, tools |
| Where to find work | SMEs, schools, SACCOs, security firms, bug bounty programmes |
| Payment | Project or bounties |
| Realistic earnings | Medium to high (experienced) |
| Time to first income | Months to years |
How to start: Labs, certifications, then awareness training for small businesses. Pros: High demand. Cons & risks: Legal risks without written authorisation. Scam warning: Never "hack" accounts or phones for clients; it's illegal. Kenya notes: The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act applies.
183. Tech tutoring and coding classes
What it is: Teaching coding, computer skills, Excel or design to individuals, children or groups. How it works: One-on-one, group classes, bootcamps or online courses.
| Skills | Subject knowledge, teaching |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, projector or online tools |
| Where to find work | Parents, students, schools, companies, tutoring platforms |
| Payment | Per lesson or course |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Days to weeks |
How to start: Run a small class; use free hub lessons as practice material. Pros: Recurring students. Cons & risks: Scheduling and preparation time. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Parents seek coding classes for children; adults want Excel and computer skills.
Summary
- Tech methods range from websites, WordPress, e-commerce and M-Pesa integration to systems, apps, APIs, maintenance, security, hosting, email setup, IT support, networks, CCTV, QA, data, Excel, automation, AI chatbots, databases, cloud, cybersecurity and teaching.
- Learning takes months, but pay and demand are strong; projects are your proof.
- Work ethically: authorisation for security work, licensed software, clients own their domains and data.
Check yourself
What is Safaricom's M-Pesa API platform called?
Show answer
Daraja
Should you use nulled (pirated) WordPress themes for clients? (yes or no)
Show answer
no
In whose name should a client's domain be registered?
Show answer
client
Before testing a system's security, what do you need? (two words)
Show answer
written authorisation