Errand Jobs in Nairobi: Delivery, Pro Apps and How to Start
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Career advice · Updated October 2026

Errand Jobs in Nairobi: Delivery, Pro Apps and How to Start

Errand jobs in Nairobi come in three forms: delivery work through apps such as Glovo, home and personal service jobs through platforms such as Lynk, and private clients (busy professionals, small shops, elderly people) who pay you directly to shop, queue, pay bills or pick up parcels. Apps need ID and checks but bring customers to you; private errands pay per task but you must find and trust the clients yourself.

Errand jobs in Nairobi through apps

Delivery apps

According to Glovo’s Kenya rider site, riders must be 18 or older with valid ID, a smartphone, a vehicle (motorbike, bicycle or car) and the right to work in Kenya; motorbike and car riders also need a valid licence and vehicle papers. Business Radar compares the Nairobi delivery apps by coverage.

Service platforms: Lynk

Lynk connects households and businesses in Nairobi with verified “pros” for cleaning, laundry, moving, repairs, events and more. To join, Lynk asks for a national ID or passport, a smartphone for a selfie check, a recent certificate of good conduct and a short skills test for each trade. Customers pay through Lynk and you withdraw earnings to M-Pesa, mobile money or bank. You choose which jobs to take.

Private errand running

Many people build an errand business through referrals: grocery runs, queuing at government offices, school pickups, paying utility bills, collecting parcels from stages and couriers. To do it safely and professionally:

  1. Set clear prices per errand or per hour, plus transport, and agree before starting.
  2. Ask for money upfront for purchases and send receipts by WhatsApp.
  3. Get a certificate of good conduct from DCI through eCitizen; clients trust it.
  4. Keep a simple record of jobs, payments and receipts.
  5. Grow by word of mouth: estate WhatsApp groups and churches are common sources.

Safety tips for errand workers

  • Never carry parcels whose contents you cannot see or verify.
  • Share your live location with someone when meeting a new client.
  • Do not accept “overpayments” that you must refund; this is a known fraud.

Other flexible work in Nairobi

Errands pair well with mystery shopping and field survey work, which also pay for visits around town. Students should also see part-time jobs in Nairobi for students.

Scam check before you start: genuine work pays you; it never asks you to pay to get paid. Walk away from anyone who asks for a “registration fee”, “activation fee”, a deposit to “unlock” tasks, or your M-Pesa PIN. Do not install apps sent through WhatsApp or Telegram links. If you have already paid, call your mobile money provider at once, report to the nearest police station or DCI office, and file on the NC4 cyber incident hub. Our guide to task job scams and red flags explains the common tricks.

Step by step: joining Lynk as a pro

  1. Gather a valid national ID or passport and a recent certificate of good conduct (police clearance).
  2. Sign up on Lynk’s pro page and complete the selfie check on your smartphone.
  3. Take the short skills test for each trade you offer.
  4. Choose the areas of Nairobi you want to work in, then quote on requests and accept jobs.
  5. After each job, withdraw earnings to M-Pesa, mobile money or bank.

Errand options compared

Option Requirements Who sets prices Payout
Delivery apps (Glovo) 18+, ID, smartphone, vehicle; licence for motorbike or car The app Through the app
Lynk ID, selfie check, good conduct certificate, skills test You quote M-Pesa, mobile money or bank
Private clients Trust and references You Directly, usually M-Pesa

Pricing private errands

Price each errand from three parts: your time, transport, and any waiting (queues at offices can take hours). Agree the total before you set off, take purchase money upfront and send receipt photos. Keep a list of repeat clients and offer weekly packages, such as a fixed weekly grocery run.

Staying safe while running errands

  • Agree the task, the budget and your fee in writing before you leave.
  • Ask the client to send money for purchases first, or agree a clear refund process with receipts.
  • Photograph receipts and items at pickup and delivery.
  • Share your live location with a friend for jobs in unfamiliar areas.
  • Decline any errand involving parcels you cannot inspect, cash collection for strangers or documents you do not understand.
  • Keep a list of repeat clients and ask satisfied ones for referrals.

Reliability builds the business: being on time, sending updates and keeping receipts is what turns a one-off errand into a regular client.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get errand jobs in Nairobi?

Sign up with a delivery app or a service platform such as Lynk, or build private clients through referrals, estate groups and social media.

What do I need to join Lynk?

A national ID or passport, a smartphone for a selfie check, a recent certificate of good conduct, and a short skills test for each trade you offer.

Can I do delivery work on a bicycle?

Glovo’s Kenya rider site lists bicycles as an accepted vehicle, alongside motorbikes and cars.

How do errand runners in Nairobi get paid?

Through the app for platforms like Lynk and delivery apps, or directly by M-Pesa from private clients.