More Kenyans are turning to online jobs and freelance work as they look for opportunities to earn money, but experts are warning that some offers could be scams designed to take advantage of job seekers.
According to KICTANet Think Tank, about 1.2 million Kenyans work in the online gig economy, providing services such as freelancing, remote tasks and software-related services.
Grace Mureithi, Director of Customer Success at DreamStart Labs, said freelancers should carefully examine job offers before accepting work from unfamiliar clients.
She identified several warning signs, including vague job descriptions, unusually high payments for simple tasks, requests for money before work begins and pressure to accept an offer immediately.
Mureithi also warned freelancers to be cautious when clients ask them to move conversations or payments away from the platform where they found the job.
She advised workers to have a signed contract before starting an assignment and, where possible, keep communication and payments on established platforms until they understand the client and available protections.
Job seekers should also research unfamiliar companies and verify that the work being offered is genuine before sharing sensitive information or committing money.
For beginners, Mureithi recommended starting with one or two trusted freelance platforms and learning how each one works instead of joining many platforms at once.
She also encouraged new freelancers to create a portfolio, even if they have never had a paying client. Sample projects can help demonstrate their abilities to potential employers.
Mureithi said freelancers should focus on delivering quality work once they secure an opportunity because positive reviews and referrals can help them build credibility.
With online work becoming an important source of income for many Kenyans, experts say careful verification can help job seekers avoid losing money or working without receiving payment.