Kenya is one of the leading economic forces in Central and East Africa, with a population of more than 48 million people and a territory of 224,445 square miles. The country is famous for its tropical climate and mountainous regions that host diverse flora and fauna, as well as for its beautiful coastline on the Indian Ocean. It’s home to a number of widely renowned national parks.

The capital, Nairobi, is a commercial hub for the region. The country is a major agricultural producer, and is also known for fishery and forestry. In recent years, the government has pushed development of the telecommunication, financial, and transport sectors. Kenya’s economy ranks 72nd worldwide, and is a leader in the service sector of Central and East Africa.

Kenya is witnessing growing urbanization. More and more Kenyans are moving from rural areas where agriculture is the main activity to urban centers where industrial jobs are becoming available. Nairobi and Mombasa are the largest urban areas, with 3,375,000 and 1,200,000 inhabitants respectively.

With improving education, better technical knowledge, and wider access to the internet, more and more Kenyans are turning to freelancing as a job alternative. They offer top services in the field of customer support and software development.

Top Skills

There are two official languages in Kenya: English and Swahili. However, they are mostly spoken in urban areas, while local native languages are predominant in rural areas. English is used in the educational system, trade, and public governance.

The literacy rate is 72.2%, with a large part of the young population being proficient in English. Most of the prestigious universities in Kenya are based in Nairobi, including the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Strathmore University. They offer high-level undergraduate and graduate degrees in information technology and commerce, among other subject areas.

With the growing percentage of well-educated youth, the Kenyan workforce is shifting away from its previous focus on agriculture. Many young people seek job opportunities abroad and find freelancing to be a great solution. Remote workers in Kenya often work in the IT and customer support fields.

Income Range

While Kenya’s GDP is steadily growing and reached $64 billion in 2016, the income levels remain low. It’s currently rated as a lower-middle income country. The average monthly salary in the IT and service sectors can range range from 70,000 KES ($675) to 144,316 KES ($1,390).

Freelancers in Kenya will have different payment expectations based on their location. In urban areas such as Nairobi and Mombasa, living costs are higher, which means remote workers will charge higher rates.

Urban-based professionals in the IT, telecommunications, and business fields often get a monthly salary between 155,000 KES ($1,500) and 300,000 KES ($2,900).

Currency

The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling. The current exchange rate is 1 USD to 103.60 KES.

Currency Exchange

Electronic payment services like PayPal and Payoneer are available in Kenya.