Online gigs · Kazi mtandaoni
Which online work platforms really take Kenya residents, how the money gets to M-Pesa, and when each fact was last checked.
- Platform
- PayPal / bank / Deel
- M-Pesa
Most “online jobs in Kenya” lists copy each other, and plenty are years out of date. Some still tell readers that Remotasks is open to Kenyans, even though Scale AI cut off its Kenyan workers on 8 March 2024 (Rest of World). This section works differently. Every platform has a dated file, every eligibility claim links to its source, and when we can’t confirm something we say unverified instead of guessing.
The ledger below is the short version. Tap a platform name for its full file: what the work is, whether residents of Kenya can sign up, the ID and tests you’ll face, how pay reaches M-Pesa, and the red flags to watch for.
Kenya eligibility tracker
Ledger updated · 5 platforms
| ID needed | Pay → M-Pesa | Pay seen | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DataAnnotation | Dead · closed to Kenya | No | AI response rating, writing, coding | Identity check; one-attempt Starter Assessment | Not applicable: closed to Kenya residents | From $20+/hr in accepted countries | 24 Oct 2026 |
| micro1 | Verified | Yes | Expert AI trainer roles (contract) | Deel contract: ID and tax documents | Deel withdrawal (M-Pesa option unverified), else bank to M-Pesa | Varies by role; e.g. one specialist listing $100–200/hr | 24 Oct 2026 |
| OpenTrain AI | Verified | Yes | AI training marketplace (labelling, evaluation) | Gov't ID, own bank account, tax ID if asked | Kenyan bank, then bank app to M-Pesa | Set per job by employer; no official rate (unverified) | 24 Oct 2026 |
| Outlier AI | Dead · closed to Kenya | No | AI training and evaluation tasks | Gov't ID and location check | Not applicable: closed to Kenya residents | Unverified for Kenya | 24 Oct 2026 |
| Prolific | Unclear | Unclear | Paid research studies and surveys | Photo ID, ideally passport, for invitees | PayPal, then the M-Pesa app's PayPal service | Minimum £6 / $8 per hour | 24 Oct 2026 |
Verified official source shows Kenya residents can join and get paid. Unclear sources conflict or access is invite-only. Red flags found evidence of problems, with the company invited to reply. Dead closed to Kenya residents or no longer paying. Rows older than 30 days show Re-check due.
How we check a platform
We start with the platform’s own pages: its country list, its help centre and its payment terms. If a platform publishes a list of countries it accepts or refuses, that list decides the “Kenya?” column. If it publishes nothing clear, or its pages contradict each other, the row is marked Unclear. Pay figures come only from the platform itself or a clearly cited source. Anything we couldn’t confirm is labelled unverified.
Each file carries a “Last verified” date. Platforms change their rules without warning, so any row we haven’t re-checked in 30 days is flagged Re-check due automatically. When a platform stops accepting Kenyans or stops paying, we change its status the same day and note what changed.
Looking for a regular job?
Online gigs work best as a top-up. For salaried roles, browse the latest jobs in Kenya, or set up a free job alert so new openings land in your email.
If you already earn from abroad, read how to move Upwork and Fiverr earnings to M-Pesa, and remember that KRA expects online income to go into your annual return.
No referral or affiliate links in this section. No platform pays to be listed or rated.