For thousands of young Kenyans, the search for a job is increasingly taking place not at an office door, but behind a laptop or smartphone.
From freelancing and online platforms to business process outsourcing and digital services, the internet has opened a new route into the labour market, while government investment in fibre, digital hubs and skills training has sought to turn Kenya into a hub for digital talent.
Four years into President William Ruto’s administration, the country has expanded digital skills training, fibre connectivity and programmes aimed at connecting young people to online work.
Kenya’s Information and Communication sector continued to expand between 2023 and 2026, with the sector maintaining its position among the country’s key contributors to economic activity.
KNBS data show that the sector grew by 10.3 per cent in 2023, before recording 7.1 per cent growth in 2024 and 4.8 per cent in 2025 according to the KNBS Economic Surveys for the respective years.
The 2023 performance reflected strong activity across telecommunications and related digital services. By 2024, the sector remained a significant contributor to economic expansion, with telecommunications continuing to account for a substantial share of activity.
The 2025 Economic Survey reports that Information and Communication output increased in value, with the sector’s value added rising from Sh339.5 billion in 2023 to Sh364.5 billion in 2024.
According to the 2026 KNBS Economic Survey, Information and Communication grew by 4.8 per cent, while telecommunications recorded 6.8 per cent growth.
The sector’s output increased to Sh728.2 billion in 2025, compared with Sh701.3 billion in 2024. KNBS data on connectivity also show continued expansion alongside the growth of the digital economy.
Internet subscriptions increased from 48.8 million in 2022 to 52.3 million in 2023, 57.8 million in 2024 and 64.4 million in 2025.
The sector’s output has continued rising, while increasing internet subscriptions point to a steadily widening digital market.
Kenya’s gig economy is also fast becoming a critical source of income for young people as the labour market shifts towards flexible and digital work.
Findings from the Ipsos Gig Economy Market Assessment Report (March 2026) show that while Kenya’s labour force continues to grow, reaching about 23 million people, job creation remains largely informal.
In 2024, an estimated 782,300 jobs were created, with nearly 90 per cent concentrated in the informal sector.
Within this environment, digital platforms are absorbing thousands of job seekers, particularly young people who face higher unemployment rates compared to the national average.
“Higher youth unemployment compared to the national average is influencing how young Kenyans enter the labour market. Many are turning to gig work because it offers a flexible and accessible pathway into income generation,” the report stated.
“With low barriers to entry and minimal onboarding requirements, young people can remain economically active even as they search for more stable opportunities. This is fundamentally reshaping how the transition from education to work happens.”
According to the report, the number of active platforms has grown from just 11 in 2015 to more than 40 by 2022, driven by increasing demand for services such as ride-hailing, delivery, freelancing and e-commerce.
So far, Kenya’s gig economy is valued at more than $1 billion and supports more than 1.5 million workers, contributing roughly 0.85 per cent to the country’s GDP.
“There are no jobs in the formal sector, and competition is extremely high for the few opportunities available. Gig work becomes the most immediate option because you can start earning almost instantly,” one freelancer is quoted in the report.
“It may not be perfect, but it allows you to meet daily needs and remain independent. For many of us, it is the only practical way to survive.”
The report noted that beyond providing income, the gig economy is also acting as a buffer against economic shocks.
Workers relied on daily or weekly earnings to meet essential household expenses, including rent, food and education.
“Gig platforms are increasingly functioning as a shock absorber during periods of economic volatility. They provide income access for underemployed populations and support daily cash-flow needs for households. This flexibility allows workers to manage financial uncertainty while maintaining a degree of stability. In many cases, gig work is not supplementary; it is central to household survival,” the report noted.
Government-backed initiatives such as Ajira Digital are further reinforcing this shift by equipping young people with skills to access online work, showing a broader policy recognition of the sector’s growing importance.
On July 28, 2026, President Ruto said Kenya is steadily positioning itself as one of the world’s leading sources of digital talent.
The President cited growing investments by global technology companies and increased focus on digital skills development.
Ruto said Kenya’s digital transformation agenda was creating opportunities for young people while strengthening the country’s position in the global technology ecosystem.
The President was speaking during the award ceremony for the winners of the 2026 Global Huawei ICT Competition and the launch of the 11th edition of the competition.
Ruto said continued investments by major technology companies operating in the country reflect the confidence in Kenya’s digital potential.
“Huawei has become a valued partner in developing digital skills through ICT academies. Microsoft has established its Africa Development Centre in Nairobi. Amazon Web Services continues expanding its presence, while Apple and many other technology companies are partnering with Kenyan institutions to develop advanced digital capabilities,” he said.
The President said these partnerships complement the work being undertaken by Kenyan universities and centres of excellence, whose graduates are increasingly gaining recognition globally.
He highlighted institutions including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, the University of Nairobi, Moi University, Strathmore University and the African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute as key contributors to the country’s growing pool of digital professionals.
“As Government, we have matched these partnerships with deliberate investments,” Ruto said.
He said that through the Digital Superhighway Programme, the government has deployed an additional 37,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable, established hundreds of digital hubs, trained more than 1.9 million Kenyans in digital skills and supported the creation of more than 350,000 digital jobs.
Ruto said the government’s goal was to create an ecosystem where education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry work together to drive economic growth.
“Our objective is to build an ecosystem where education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry reinforce one another; where classrooms connect to laboratories, laboratories to start-ups, start-ups to industry and industry to global markets,” he said.
The President had earlier highlighted the government’s digital jobs agenda in January 2024, when he said about 20,000 computers had been distributed in Kenya, creating digital job opportunities for 120,000 youth.
Ruto said the Kenya Kwanza administration would create more digital jobs and send more Kenyans to jobs abroad.
“Already 120,000 youths are now doing digital jobs in different parts of Kenya. It is our plan as a government to ensure that there is employment in our country; we will plan for jobs in Kenya and abroad because we live in a global village.”
