H. Tech and programming (ways 79–91): websites, apps, M-Pesa integration, automation and data
Technical skills take longer to learn than most online work, but they pay the most and are in demand worldwide. A Kenyan developer can build websites for local businesses, integrate M-Pesa payments, fix bugs for clients in Europe, analyse data for NGOs or work remotely for international companies. This unit covers 13 tech methods, with the learning path for each (most can be learned free on this hub).
Your developer portfolio
- A GitHub account (github.com) with clean, documented projects.
- A portfolio website (built by you) listing 3–6 projects with screenshots, the problem solved, your role, technologies and live links.
- Real or realistic projects beat tutorial clones: "School fees payment system with M-Pesa", "Hardware shop inventory app", "Restaurant ordering website".
79. Business websites
What it is. Building websites for businesses, schools, churches, NGOs and professionals.
How to start, step by step:
- Learn HTML, CSS and basic JavaScript (subjects on this hub); learn hosting (cPanel, domains, SSL, email).
- Build 3 sample sites for different industries, deploy them online (GitHub Pages, Netlify or cheap hosting).
- Create a clear offer: "5-page business website with WhatsApp button, contact form, Google Maps, SEO basics, hosting setup".
- Find clients: local businesses without websites (many have only Facebook pages), referrals, Facebook groups, LinkedIn, and international clients on Upwork/Fiverr.
- Use a process: discovery questionnaire → quote and deposit → design draft → build → client review → launch → training → maintenance plan.
Pricing. Local simple sites are often priced from about KSh 15,000 upward depending on pages and features; add yearly hosting and maintenance (recurring income).
80. WordPress development
What it is. WordPress powers a large share of all websites. Clients want WordPress sites they can edit themselves: blogs, business sites, school sites, news sites, membership sites.
How to start: learn WordPress installation on cPanel, themes, page builders (Elementor, Gutenberg blocks), essential plugins (SEO, security, backups, forms, caching), and basic PHP/CSS for customisation. Offer setup, customisation, speed optimisation, security hardening and maintenance.
81. Online shops (WooCommerce, Shopify and custom)
What it is. Building e-commerce stores with product catalogues, carts, delivery options and payments (M-Pesa, cards).
How to start: learn WooCommerce (WordPress) and/or Shopify; learn Kenyan payment integrations (M-Pesa plugins or gateways, card gateways licensed in Kenya); build a demo store; offer setup + product upload + training. Pair with product photography and product descriptions (methods 52, 10).
82. Mobile apps
What it is. Building Android and iOS apps for businesses, startups, SACCOs, schools and NGOs.
How to start: follow the App development path (Flutter is popular for building Android and iOS from one codebase); publish at least one real app on Google Play (a one-time developer registration fee applies); build portfolio apps that solve local problems; partner with designers (UI/UX) and backend developers.
Pay. App projects are larger (and riskier); always use milestones and contracts.
83. M-Pesa integration
What it is. Connecting websites, apps and systems to Safaricom's Daraja API: STK push (customer enters PIN on their phone), C2B (paybill/till payment notifications), B2C (paying customers), transaction status and balance queries.
Why it's valuable. Almost every Kenyan business system needs M-Pesa: school fees, rent collection, e-commerce, SACCO contributions, Wi-Fi hotspots, event tickets. Developers who do it reliably are in demand locally and with international companies entering Kenya.
How to start: study the M-Pesa Daraja API lesson in the APIs & backends subject on this hub; build in the sandbox (developer.safaricom.co.ke); handle callbacks, failures and duplicate payments correctly; keep credentials secret on the server; offer integration as a service to web developers and businesses.
84. Website maintenance and bug fixing
What it is. Keeping sites running: updates, backups, security fixes, uptime monitoring, content changes, fixing broken features and errors.
Why it's great. Recurring monthly income (care plans) and constant demand: many businesses have sites built by someone who disappeared.
How to start: offer monthly care plans (updates, backups, small edits, monitoring, reports); take bug-fixing jobs on Upwork ("fix my WordPress site", "PHP error", "website hacked"); learn debugging with browser DevTools and server logs.
85. Automation and scripts
What it is. Saving businesses time by automating repetitive work: Python scripts, Google Apps Script for Google Sheets, Excel macros, and no-code tools (Zapier, Make, n8n) connecting apps ("when a form is submitted, add to a spreadsheet, send an email and a WhatsApp notification").
How to start: learn Python basics (this hub), Google Apps Script, and one automation tool; offer "automate your reports/invoices/emails" services; show time saved.
86. Data analysis and dashboards
What it is. Cleaning data, analysing it and building reports and dashboards for businesses, NGOs, researchers and SACCOs, using Excel, Google Sheets, SQL, Power BI, Tableau or Python.
How to start:
- Learn Excel deeply (pivot tables, XLOOKUP, charts), then SQL, then Power BI or Python (pandas).
- Build portfolio dashboards using public data (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Kenya Open Data, Kaggle datasets): e.g. "County population and health facilities dashboard".
- Offer services: survey data analysis for researchers and NGOs (common in Kenya), sales dashboards for businesses, monitoring and evaluation reports.
- Compete on Zindi/Kaggle to build credibility (method 41).
87. Remote IT support
What it is. Helping people and small businesses with computer problems remotely (using tools like AnyDesk or TeamViewer), setting up Microsoft 365/Google Workspace, email, printers, networks, antivirus and backups; also helpdesk jobs for companies.
How to start: learn IT basics, computer maintenance, networking and Windows administration (this hub); consider certifications (CompTIA A+, Microsoft fundamentals); offer support contracts to small offices, schools and clinics; apply for remote helpdesk roles.
88. Bug bounties
What it is. Finding security vulnerabilities in companies' systems with permission, through official bug bounty programmes, and getting paid rewards.
Where: HackerOne (hackerone.com), Bugcrowd (bugcrowd.com), Intigriti, and companies' own responsible disclosure programmes.
How to start: learn web security (this hub's Cybersecurity subject, PortSwigger Web Security Academy (free), OWASP Top 10); practise legally on deliberately vulnerable labs; read programme scopes carefully and only test what's allowed.
Honest view. Bounties are competitive; beginners may go months without a valid finding. The skills lead to well-paid security jobs.
89. Selling code, themes and plugins
What it is. Creating reusable products: WordPress themes and plugins, website templates, app templates, scripts, UI kits, and selling them repeatedly.
Where: marketplaces like CodeCanyon/ThemeForest (Envato), your own website, Gumroad/Payhip/Selar; or the official WordPress plugin directory with a paid "pro" version.
How to start: solve a specific problem well (e.g. "M-Pesa payment plugin for a specific platform", "school website template"), document it, provide support, and update regularly. Passive-ish income, but support takes time.
90. No-code apps and chatbots
What it is. Building apps, websites and chatbots without much code using tools like Glide, Bubble, Softr, FlutterFlow, Airtable, and AI chatbot builders (website chatbots and WhatsApp bots via official API providers).
How to start: pick one tool, build 3 small useful apps (inventory tracker, booking app, FAQ chatbot for a school), and offer quick, affordable solutions to small businesses. Learn basic logic and data structure; no-code still needs clear thinking.
91. Hosting and domain reselling
What it is. Selling web hosting and domains (e.g. .co.ke) to clients through reseller hosting accounts or registrar reseller programmes, often bundled with website building and maintenance.
How to start: choose a reliable hosting provider's reseller plan, learn cPanel/WHM and DNS, offer support you can actually deliver (email setup, SSL, backups), and price clearly (yearly renewals). Reliability and quick support matter more than being cheapest.
Finding tech clients and jobs
| Channel | Best for |
|---|---|
| Local businesses (walk-ins, referrals) | Websites, M-Pesa, IT support, maintenance |
| Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, Toptal (selective) | International projects |
| Remote jobs, contracts, networking | |
| GitHub and open source | Visibility, experience, credibility |
| Tech communities and events (meetups, hackathons, Google Developer Groups) | Jobs, partners, learning |
| Remote job boards (We Work Remotely, Remote OK, Wellfound) | Full-time remote roles |
Contracts and protecting yourself
- Written scope: exactly what's included; extra features cost extra.
- Milestones and deposits: e.g. 40% to start, 30% at draft, 30% at launch.
- Ownership: transfer code ownership after full payment.
- Hosting and accounts in the client's name (domain especially), with your access, so there are no disputes later.
- Never hold sites hostage over disputes; it damages your reputation and may be illegal.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Endless tutorials without building | Build real projects from week 2 |
| No portfolio or GitHub | 3–6 documented projects |
| Underpricing and unlimited changes | Clear scope, milestones, change requests |
| Storing M-Pesa keys in front-end code | Keep secrets on the server only |
| Hacking without permission | Only authorised testing |
| No backups | Automated backups before any change |
Practice tasks
- Build and deploy a 3-page website for an imaginary business.
- Complete the M-Pesa sandbox STK push from the APIs & backends subject.
- Build an Excel or Power BI dashboard from a public Kenyan dataset.
- Write a one-page website proposal with scope, timeline, price and milestones.
- Automate one repetitive task (e.g. a Google Form that emails you each response).
Summary
- Tech earning paths: websites, WordPress, online shops, apps, M-Pesa integration, maintenance, automation, data analysis, IT support, bug bounties, selling code, no-code apps and hosting reselling.
- They take longer to learn but pay the most; learn free on this hub and build a portfolio on GitHub.
- Use contracts, milestones and clear scope; keep domains in clients' names; keep secrets on servers.
- Security testing is only legal with permission.
Check yourself
What is Safaricom's M-Pesa developer API called?
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Daraja
In which environment should you build and test M-Pesa integration first?
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sandbox
Which Kenyan law makes unauthorised hacking a crime? Write the first two words.
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Computer Misuse
Which platform hosts code portfolios for developers?
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GitHub
Name the WordPress plugin used to build online shops.
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WooCommerce
Should a client's domain be registered in the developer's name or the client's name?
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client