Browsing: Kenya’s gig economy

Bikers on a street in Nairobi. Improved cycling infrastructure in Kenya will help grow the gig economy while also earning the government savings on reduced accidents. www.theexchange.africa

Most roads have either poor bike lanes or no lanes at all. And these are not roads made in the 1990s, no, these are roads being made today. With most industrialized western countries doing away with their overreliance on motorized transport for cycling, a far greener alternative, African countries are yet again slow to catch on.   

Secure, well-demarcated bikeways are key to better quality of city life, less vehicular wear and tear on roads and a healthy populace. All these make money sense if you contrast the wage bill on maintaining the roads, combating climate change effects and relieving the overburdened healthcare system.

But more importantly is the creation of an environment where delivery gig work thrives and steps up to be a big earner for young people, who majorly fall under the “untaxable” domain due to lack of gainful employment. 

Currently, there are cycle lanes only on a few…

Gig work in Kenya is anticipated to experience significant growth. However, the growth is not quick enough to address all the unemployment challenges. www.theexchange.africa

The gig economy has been the norm in Kenya for decades given that the economy is largely defined by a large informal sector which accounts for 83.6 percent of the working population, employing 14.9 million workers. The online gig economy in Kenya operates across several sectors, including transport services, personal and household services, business services, delivery services, professional services, hospitality and medical care.
Agriculture, manufacturing, construction, trade, hospitality, transport and communications and community, social and personal services are the top sectors that account for these workers.…