On 24th November, 2016, the government launched a new site, Ajira Digital. This site aims to increase the awareness of online jobs to Kenyan youth. Below are the current objectives on the site:
Immediately after creation, it has caused quite a tsunami online, eliciting very sharp reactions from many in different online circles. Most of the people are really worried. In fact, most of the comments I’ve read are totally negative, with some people even pushing for the site to be pulled down.
Many have told me that freelancers were just fine without the government, there is no need for them to come in now.
But, what exactly is this? Is it sustainable? Is there anything new that they’re providing that’s not already there?
Is Ajira Digital another BIG scam?
In most countries, when the government taps into something they were previously hands off about, people immediately think it’s a big scam in the making. We’ve seen a lot of terrible government scams to the extent that some people believe that anything the government touches dies.
Is this the case here?
I have absolutely no idea. I really hope it’s not though. I love speaking on facts, especially when it comes to negatively labelling something.
The main fact we have at the moment is that Ajira Digital is here, and it may have an impact on the future of online jobs in Kenya.
What is the big problem, then?
In my opinion, the initiative aims to produce a colossal workforce of Kenyan online professionals, 1 million new workers to be precise. However, they’re not providing solutions on how they’ll provide enough jobs to absorb the 1 million new guys. This means they’ll train and provide tools to a workforce that will come in and drain the few existing jobs.
I talk more about this further along in the article.
Where we’ve come from
We cannot make future projections without looking at where online workers have come from. I started doing online jobs in April 2011, thus the observations below are for the period between 2011 and 2016. Here’s what we’re looking at:
- Online jobs that used to pay $1-2 in 2011 are now paying $5 and above.
- There are way more people earning online in 2016 when compared to 2011. This is due to the heavy awareness created by online freelancers in blogs and social media platforms.
- People used to earn Sh. 30-50k in 2014 but many are now starting to cross the Sh. 100k barrier.
- In 2011 there were very few trainers. Very few people were sharing information on how they did their online jobs. Right now there are lots of blogs and social media groups where people freely share information. There are many people who are offering training, whether paid or free.
- Back then the emphasis was mostly on writers. But now we also have transcribers, graphic designers, web designers, virtual assistants and other online workers coming out strongly.
There have been many ups and downs but I can confidently say that we were doing fine. Online work was and is indeed moving in the right direction. With Ajira in the picture, a few things are bound to happen as we’ll see below.
Before that, let’s do a quick situation check.
The situation on the ground
Due to cut-throat competition and an influx of online workers from all over the world, there has been a paradigm shift in the way things are done online. Below are some things that have recently happened in freelancing sites.
- Upwork, the current best freelancer’s marketplace created a bot that automatically rejects most applications from freelancers of different countries, Kenya included. Try it. Apply now, create the best Upwork profile and see the message you’ll receive.
- iWriter once banned Kenya but we fought for it to come back. However, they introduced some checks and filters. They now permanently ban poorly rated writers. If your rating is 3/5 after 5 reviews, 3.2/5 after 10 reviews or 3.4/5 after 20 reviews, your account gets banned.
- Some sites have had to create application windows. They briefly open up for applications then close to avoid an influx of freelancers.
- Some freelancers have experienced a sharp decrease in the flow of jobs in certain sites.
- While it was possible for people to earn their entire income from just one site, nowadays most people have to combine different work sites to make a living.
- Freelancer is fast losing its reputation. Most people now believe it’s full of scammers and also has lots of unnecessary fees. Most clients there pay really low. Some Kenyan freelancers still love the site, though. Others now use it to outsource freelance work, not to get jobs.
- Despite the fact that people are generally earning more now than they were 5 years ago, it is harder to penetrate the market than it was back then. The simple reasoning is that site owners want to reduce the inflow of poor quality workers. They want to try balance the worker to client ratio. They want their clients to be happy, therefore some measures taken end up favoring clients, and not freelancers.
- Many trainers have emerged and they’re doing a great job training people how to navigate through the different available work sources and still earn a decent living. They charge a fee for the trainings but this helps develop a qualified workforce, which is good for the country.
Is the Ajira Digital goal of creating one million online workers in a year realistic?
We’ve already seen that there are too many workers online so sites are looking for measures to cut down.
What will these sites do with an additional 1 million Kenyans?
Let’s do a quick analysis.
One of the sites mentioned in Ajira’s “Find Work” page is iWriter. So what will happen with iWriter if, say, 200 thousand Kenyans join it?
First of all, the site is already experiencing extremely low workflow. New writers there have to wait till late in the night to get an article to write. It was easy to make $200 a week there a few years ago. But now a new writer would be lucky to make even $50 a week in iWriter.
Introduce 200k more guys and the situation changes.
It would be even worse if 100k of these were delivering bad quality work, right? I mean, if I was a site owner there, would I want to get 100k more bad writers?
Yes, the system automatically bans bad writers, but what about those clients who receive those bad jobs? Won’t they want to get content elsewhere and not in iWriter? Definitely when Brad Callen, the iWriter owner, sees a mass exit of clients, he will want to do something to reduce the inflow of writers.
Now, let’s assume the 200k writers are all really good, which is unrealistic, but let’s just run with it. The site is already drained as it is, therefore if these perfect writers get in, they’ll totally suck all the jobs out of the site in minutes. You’d be lucky to land on a single article in a week.
The same scenario will play out somehow on different sites, leading to the different impacts I mention below. But first, let’s check out the pros and cons.
Pros of Ajira
- Increased awareness of digital jobs in Kenya
- People who would not have otherwise afforded paid training will have access to free training and mentorship
- Possible provision of tools of trade such as easy access to computers and internet for the disadvantaged.
- The admin seems to be listening to some advice. They’ve kept editing the site regularly since its creation to weed out possible bugs. This was after a few complaints on social media.
- The fact that it will give rise to increased competition, thought leaders and entrepreneurs may come out with splendid online solutions.
Cons of Ajira
- It may bring in what I call the reverse-quail effect. For those of you who don’t know, many Kenyans lost a lot of money a few years ago on a hyped quail business. This was a business idea that created so many producers of quail eggs, but no consumers, thus it all crumbled. In the Ajira case, we’ll have too many workers but no jobs, thus shooting down the price of business and possibly messing up for existing struggling online workers.
- There seems to be nothing new being put on the table, other than links to a few sites that existing online workers already know.
- The goal of creating one million jobs is unrealistic if they use their current model. This is because these 1 million guys will need access to computers and internet, which are still very expensive to low income earners. Some parts of Kenya still don’t even have electricity, let alone high speed internet connectivity. The 1 million will also need daily jobs to sustain themselves. We’ve already discussed about the current job situation.
- The term “creation of jobs” is misused here. People are simply being directed to sites that may or may not give the perceived results.
- After many young Kenyans join all these sites and don’t get the intended results, there are high chances that they’ll just quit online work. Soon after this, Ajira Digital will become an obsolete and forgotten site.
- As much as we want to think that this is not a scandal in the making, people are usually very afraid of rushed projects that come just before elections, therefore many may not take it seriously.
Projected impact
My hope is that the government will either fix Ajira Digital or just pull it down. Assuming it will remain the way it is, below are some of the projected impacts.
- Many young people will rush to Ajira to look for online jobs with a dream of finally making it and earning a decent living. They’ll be directed to legitimate online job sites and bring in stiff competition to existing freelancers there.
- The fact that some people will not earn as well as they think will lead to an increase in depression and hopelessness among youth, which is dangerous to a society.
- Online freelancers may start being mean with information, especially when they get new, untapped sources of income.
- Some trainers may lose credibility since they may be bringing people into saturated work pools.
- Highly reputable trainers may heavily increase training fees since they’ll have to keep uncovering new methods of earning so that they do justice to their trainees.
- Some websites may react to a sudden surge of inexperienced freelancers. They may create more stringent barriers to entry.
- Increased competition without creation of new jobs may force guys to charge extremely low rates, therefore defeating the purpose of the whole thing.
- Necessity breeds invention. Therefore people will be forced to come up with other online businesses and creations that can survive the heaviest storms. This can lead to some heavy breakthroughs that may actually create massive online tycoons earning millions or even billions in the next few years.
- Success will be more and more individualized. People will have to “dump” online work sites and go look for work themselves through pitching, blogging or use of online job boards. These may be the people who will earn extremely well.
- There will be more focus on building online businesses instead of just looking for online jobs.
Recommendations for freelancers
Ajira is here and if it’s heavily marketed, the projections above may come to pass. You need to take personal responsibility to stand out from the crowd and still command high rates. Below are my recommendations:
- Diversify and learn different skills. Look for areas that do not have so many people and capitalize on them.
- If the government won’t do it, let’s do it. Let’s focus on creating jobs instead of just waiting for others to create jobs for us. You can create jobs by sourcing for high paying clients and outsourcing work to freelancers, creating online solutions to Kenyan needs, doing internet marketing where you hire a team to take care of a huge web solution etc. Note that the owners of Facebook, Google and Amazon are some of the richest people in the world. Let’s think outside the box and come up with our own big online enterprises.
- Specialize in one niche or a few niches and becoming very good in what you do such that you’re still sought after regardless of the heavy competition.
- Strive to get your own private clients; be it from your blog, pitching or online job boards. This way you’ll totally run the show and won’t be affected by changes in online work sites.
- Blog heavily in your niche with the keyword “outsource to Kenya” e.g. “outsource graphic design work to Kenya” or “outsource freelance writing to Kenya” etc.
- Actually deliver superior quality work. Awesome work brings in more work and referrals.
- Have very good work ethic. If we really want to be an outsourcing giant, clients need to heavily believe in us.
- Start thinking of an online business that you can create. This can be an affiliate site, a site offering a specific service, an ecommerce site that sells items etc. Do lots of research and start building something today.
Recommendations for clients
As online business matures, we’re getting lots of Kenyan clients who outsource online work to both Kenyan and international clients. I have done lots of work for Kenyan entrepreneurs and companies. These include writing work, online marketing, copyediting, ad creation etc. I have also hired Kenyans to help me out in different online jobs.
In fact, I’ve never seen as many Kenyan clients online as I’ve seen in 2016.
My recommendations are as follows:
- Focus on outsourcing work to Kenyans instead of taking it outside
- Do whatever you can to increase your flow of work so that you can take advantage of the influx of workers
- Don’t underpay freelancers since it’s not just enough to create jobs, we need to also ensure freelancers are paid their worth
Recommendations for government
- Change the whole focus of Ajira and properly rethink the whole thing
- Don’t put most of your energy creating workers, use most of it to actually create those jobs locally.
- Don’t focus on sending people to outside sites to get work, focus on helping them create thriving online businesses that will double as sources of income and sources of jobs. For example, if a Kenyan creates something that earns as much as Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft or eBay, that will create lots of high paying jobs for Kenyans.
- Waive taxes for people who work online. They’re already being charged 20% or more by online work sites and 1% or more by online payment processors. Also zero-rating taxes will encourage people to want to join in.
- Increase the reach of fast internet.
- Lower internet costs.
- Lower the cost of computers.
- Increase the reach of electricity and if possible do something to reduce the frequency of blackouts.
- Infiltrate online business into the existing education platforms and change the education system to focus on entrepreneurship instead of just giving information. In short, create a society where people build businesses and do not just focus on getting employed.
Final word and the future of online jobs in Kenya
I believe that there may have been some good intentions in creating the Ajira initiative. However, it needs to be heavily improved. In fact, the government needs to rethink the whole thing.
We do not need 1 million workers joining a struggling pool. We need more jobs created that the 1 million workers will come to. We need smart online entrepreneurs who create huge online businesses that bring in lots of work. We can do it.
Is the future dark? No. If we managed to get this far without government involvement, we can still go even further regardless of the challenges we face. In fact, challenges just make us stronger. They make us think.
I project that by 2020 we’ll have legitimate online billionaires in Kenya. Let’s take charge of our success.
What do you think of Ajira? Feel free to leave your comment below. Whether you love it or not, kindly make sure you leave a respectful comment.
Great content. Well done, Walter.
Thank you for sharing!
I’m looking for online jobs training. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.
You’re welcome, Naomi!
Check out our article writing course here https://freelancerkenya.com/article-writing-and-blogging-training/
Nice post.Thank you to share this post.
Thanks.
Hae ajira how can I register myself.. I wanted to work online.. Pliz help
Hi Dida. Sorry this is not Ajira, but FreelancerKenya. If you want to start working online from scratch, you can follow my guide here https://freelancerkenya.com/money-online/successful-freelancer/
HOW DO I START WORKING ON-LINE ARE THE JOB AVAILABLE ALREADY OR NOT YET .
Hi Mary. Here’s an article I wrote that will really help you https://freelancerkenya.com/money-online/successful-freelancer/
I was really looking forward to working online but your comments here are so discouraging, Walter advise
Hi John. You can still work online and earn well like many are doing. My comments are about the Ajira initiative. Here is a post I did on how to become a successful freelancer https://freelancerkenya.com/money-online/successful-freelancer/
I don’t think Agira digital is creating jobs! May be it’s out to con young Kenyans, I can’t trust anything done by the current government and this is just one of their votes hunting schemes! I came across digitrek.net that seems to promote entrepreneurs and SMEs businesses online by giving them a bidding platform to sell their expertise and goods. I’m sure the youths can reap more business success from sites like digitrek other than dubious government deals!
Thanks for your response Clyvo. I think as long as the site stays the way it is, most Kenyans will remain skeptical. I believe the people over at Ajira are listening and will fix things.
It is discouraging for upcoming writers who’d like to penetrate the industry. The prospects of Online work has given many a frustrated Kenyan youth hope and optimism in the midst of all this unemployment crisis. Now to think the whole thing is already saturated and less promising is cause for despair
Thanks Walter for your timely piece. I think the government wants to tax online workers in the future or near future. This corrupt government is driven by the hands of hustlers sweat. There is so much money which the government collects in the form of taxes but the money ends up in few peoples pockets, then they start crying crocodile tears that there is not enough money to finance our country’s budget. You are practically taxed to breathe…..in kenya…..I hope that the government does not ruin this haven for the thousands of kenyans who cannot already get jobs in the formal sector…this is so unfair!!! Everything the government touches lands in a mess.
Hi Lizzie. Thanks for your response. We’ll not give anyone a chance to mess this up. This is something most of us have fought for for a very long time. The current model that the government is using can’t work and will only bring in the issues above. I hope they’ll try implement the recommendations. Meanwhile, freelancers and employers can keep doing their part and we’ll still have a great time.
I wanted to write something about this Ajira thing. After reading your article, though, I have nothing else to say. You hit the nail on the head and asked the right questions. There’re so many gray areas in the whole issue and nobody seems to have a clear answer – not even the CS himself.
Thanks John. Let’s stay hopeful that something better will be done. Or better yet, as many of us continue doing what’s better long-term for the online industry.
It is so humiliating to hear that the government wants to put its hand in a found that is far much erected. This is a strategy to start taxing the whole lot of this online industry. Guys who can do online business in Kenya do not need the government at all.. These are guys who have already graduated or tarined in a carrier…. let the government handle think of the uneducated unemployed first before they stir the waters for peace-loving onliner hustlers!
Walter is very right about this. The government should try to create a million online jobs than to bring in a million people to drain the few remaining slots.
Thanks Titus. Indeed the workers will need jobs for the initiative to succeed.
I like this.
Thanks Samuel.
Personally, I’m more optimistic regarding this issue.
New entrants in the online world often bring revolutionary ideas that make things better for most people (a few who are reluctant to adapt would suffer, though). Just like how Google revolutionized online search and Facebook revolutionized social media – there were many others before them.
Hi Victor,
I love your optimism.
I have always been an optimist by nature. I still am.
Difficult and dark times actually bring in innovation. However, there are still other innovations that came about without necessarily bringing others into a difficult situation.
I know many online who have mastered the skill of staying afloat regardless of any challenges. But I believe in the short term things may be difficult for the newbies and those who are not so good at adapting.
However, if all is done well, things can work seamlessly without others getting messed up. That’s what some of us are fighting for.
I am still very hopeful for the future of online business. I believe we’ll soon have great millionaires and billionaires out of this.
Must say I’m totally in agreement with you, Walter and a good deal of commenters here as well.
It’s also clear that this is a passionate issue. So I’m clipping my emotions and calling on my Mr. Sensible.
First, I think that whoever came up with the Ajira thing is a big picture thinker: probably a visionary who had good intentions. The problem might have come at the implementation stage. Visionary turned disillusioned.
You have a platform that is so “determined” to “create jobs” in one year, that it isn’t concerned with what will happen just weeks after the one year is over–that’s assuming they even get to the 1 million-online-jobs-in-a-year Canaan.
If anything, the sites linked might pull some stunts like that iWriter ban we had to deal with some 24 months back.
Secondly, a week after the whole thing shot to fame via THAT early morning interview, I still can’t make sense of what’s wrong with the picture here: A government website that links to the likes of Upwork and PPH and iWriter does make some sense, it’s rather humorous and it’s cool for a Govt to have a sense of humor.
But when it links to Acemyhomework and Co… I’m lost and not sure what to make of that picture.
Thirdly, I agree with Walter where he says there’s potential for an influx of untrained, newbie online freelancers literally stumbling and scrambling for the cake. That means high chances of everyone losing the invitation to eat cake in another party: meaning the word may go round that Kenyan freelancers are no less than a swarm of locusts who’ll feast the life out of a clean, getting-by online freelancers’ site and move on to another when the former dies.
Now that’s not the kind of reputation that creates room for 1 million more ambitious guys. No way.
Fourth, I think the PS and Co. needed to truly understand the nature of online jobs before waving Ajira (and that annoying, cliched buzzword “Digital”) in our faces and noses. Then maybe they’d figure that at in its current state, Ajira Digital stinks and is nauseating. It’s unsustainable. Disillusioned. Comic. Opportunistic. And a bunch of other negative adjectives.
I think the government’s role should be to implement platforms that act as supporting infrastructure for either employment or enterprise conception and development.
So if the PS and Co want to create real jobs online, they’d do better to try and support internet connectivity efforts rather that point guys to Writerbay. That is, not to freaking mislead jobless youth to hop on to the Online Dollar Dream “mbus”, work at home kind of scammy stuff by coming up with a link-centric website that throngs guys to a professional site that’s no way in need of the publicity stunt.
I think the government would do much better to rethink and re-develop Ajira from a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) angle. The Philippines is an excellent case study and benchmark to learn some well needed tips from.
As many of those in agreement say Ay? The Ays have it.
Hi Dennis,
Sure, this idea must have come from someone who had big dreams and hopes for the country. However, it’s still very wanting as it is.
The site pulled down all the academic writing links. Those were a huge bone of contention.
Let’s hope the government will rethink this and come up with something sustainable.
I love your closing. Hilarious. Aaaaaye 🙂
“I Project that by 2020 we’ll have legitimate online billionaires in Kenya.” I am somewhere smiling about this because in this bus is where I belong.
If you can remember i had contacted you a month ago before this AJira thing popped up.
My dream has never been this valid.
Hi Sam. Sure, your dream is extremely valid. I totally believe we’ll get there. Let’s hope that some of us in this comments section will be part of that rich group 🙂 🙂
Great analysis and recommendations. Freelancers need not worry about their jobs, it’s partly because of their success that we have decided to launch Ajira. I understand the many questions people have. Rome was not built in a day and I don’t expect clarity on day one. The government’s intentions are as we have always indicated. How are we going to have a digital economy without digital workers and a digital market?
I’ll be happy to meet your forum for a face to face discussion. Let me know when and where. Thanks
CS Joe Mucheru
Thanks bwana CS. Its so good to see you here on a simple forum. I know your intention was humble but some people got it all wrong. I hope I will get an invite to the forum as well as I have a lot to share. Have worked on the online jobs for the last 7yrs and for sure there are a million opportunities to exploit.
Thanks CS Joe for your comment here. It’s such an honor.
I’m happy you’ve noted the success that freelancers have had and that it inspired you to launch Ajira. The face to face meeting idea is awesome. I believe it will be easier for us to fit into your schedule than vice versa.
I also have some great suggestions that can make the whole initiative better. Some are mentioned in the post above, but I also have others that we can brainstorm.
Thanks and stay blessed.
Hi Mr. CS,
It is true that Rome was not build in one day but that is not the real issue. What pisses people off is finding links that they can easily find for free on the net. Creating awareness, developing interest and making it work are three different things.
If the government wishes to introduce jobs in future, then it is wise to wait until the jobs are ‘available’ and then launch the site. The likes of Upwork did not apply your approach of creating awareness and then offering real jobs. I am sure they had some few tasks available during the launch so as to motivate the freelancers.
Mweshimiwa,
Why do you come up with another online platform yet we already have existing online job platforms in Kenya like Kuhustle.com, digitrek.net and many others? Why couldn’t you just work with these platforms mweshimiwa?
Thanks.
I honestly expected to find myself transcribing the president’s speech (or someone ‘big’ for that matter) only to be redirected to gotranscript!! seriously?!!
Hahahahaha…Just like many of us Reyhab. We really expected something bigger and better planned.
Just got round to reading this and my take home, as you say Walter, is for us to start thinking outside the box. Have a Kenyan owned site that gives jobs instead of we always being the ones who are searching.
Upwork, iWriter etc, etc, these sites were set up by human beings just like you and me. This is the only way to cater to increasing numbers that will now venture into the online work space.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for your comment and I love your thinking. We indeed should come up with such great stuff, better than those existing elsewhere. In fact, those of us who’ve been there for a while should start thinking as businessmen and not just freelancers.
I believe we can do it. Kenya has some phenomenal, brilliant minds.
Judy says that “a Kenyan owned site that gives jobs instead of we always being the ones who are searching”. Interesting. But why so shy don’t you tells what this website is so that we can get some of those jobs that are being given? Otherwise, I too have a website that’s giving away thousands of jobs every day. Just like Ajira will soon be giving millions of jobs.
Thanks Francis. I’m glad you love the tips.
The government has to pull down the website for reasons all given up there by our mentor Walter.
To the government I say, “this is a project all gone wrong. Do something before things go bad and that something is to pull “your” website down. Its of no use as of now. “
Hi Arnold,
Indeed there’s so much that’s wanting in the site. They can either pull it down or simply rethink it.
This Ajira thing is like waiting for your visitor at bus-stop and then you take them to your neighbor’s home to be served. In the first place, your neighbor had no idea that you were coming so you catch him by surprise. You then excuse yourself leaving the two to get along. It’s surely one of those campaign jokes, especially at this time and season.
As you’ve said, what we will have afterward is a bunch of frustrated youths who will end up in crime or depression.
Hehehehe 🙂 😀 You’re hilarious Faith. Interesting comparison. I really hope things change before our youths plunge into such depression/frustration.
Hi Walter,
Your write-up deserves a toast. So here is to the Brave, Bold and Forthright Walter Akolo! It takes guts to take the Government Bull by its horns and wrestle with it and win. I consider this a win for all the prime harvest of freelancers you have trained, guided and mentored.
Congratulations for looking out for us! You can count on all true online society members in this Nation to root for you and rally behind you.
Like you rightly point out, this Ajira thing is suspect. A few “front runners” have been identified and facilitated to go round counties on fact finding and collecting of statistics that will easily morph into “achievements” of the GIP and these will form part of the next manifesto giving “evidence” of why it must continue into the next half decade.
Walter, I suggest you set up a “Koogle” , “kenyazon” or whatever and you and the likes of Felix, Gitau, etc direct all the people you have mentored towards local work sites instead of allowing Ajira to just “recurgitate” what others have “munched”.
Governments are known not to be too innovative but ours takes the prize for lack of innovation and foresight. I was once told “You can fool some people some of the time, but you cannot fool ALL the people all the time!”
I hope that the guys who are mandated with “digitizing” the government will not use Ajira the same way the IFMIS has been used to devour the YOUTH FUND and the HEALTH billions.
Please get together with your group of the “Whiz Gang” and develop an app that can smell a scam before it comes full term.
I am keeping it here…… and watching this space for further updates from up your sleeve.
Thank you oooooo!
Sharon
Must say I’m totally in agreement with you, Walter and a good deal of commenters here as well.
It’s also clear that this is a passionate issue. So I’m clipping my emotions and calling on my Mr. Sensible.
First, I think that whoever came up with the Ajira thing is a big picture thinker: probably a visionary who had good intentions. The problem might have come at the implementation stage. Visionary turned disillusioned.
You have a platform that is so “determined” to “create jobs” in one year, that it isn’t concerned with what will happen just weeks after the one year is over–that’s assuming they even get to the 1 million-online-jobs-in-a-year Canaan.
If anything, the sites linked might pull some stunts like that iWriter ban we had to deal with some 24 months back.
Secondly, a week after the whole thing shot to fame via THAT early morning interview, I still can’t make sense of what’s wrong with the picture here: A government website that links to the likes of Upwork and PPH and iWriter does make some sense, it’s rather humorous and it’s cool for a Govt to have a sense of humor.
But when it links to Acemyhomework and Co… I’m lost and not sure what to make of that picture.
Thirdly, I agree with Walter where he says there’s potential for an influx of untrained, newbie online freelancers literally stumbling and scrambling for the cake. That means high chances of everyone losing the invitation to eat cake in another party: meaning the word may go round that Kenyan freelancers are no less than a swarm of locusts who’ll feast the life out of a clean, getting-by online freelancers’ site and move on to another when the former dies.
Now that’s not the kind of reputation that creates room for 1 million more ambitious guys. No way.
Fourth, I think the PS and Co. needed to truly understand the nature of online jobs before waving Ajira (and that annoying, cliched buzzword “Digital”) in our faces and noses. Then maybe they’d figure that at in its current state, Ajira Digital stinks and is nauseating. It’s unsustainable. Disillusioned. Comic. Opportunistic. And a bunch of other negative adjectives.
I think the government’s role should be to implement platforms that act as supporting infrastructure for either employment or enterprise conception and development.
So if the PS and Co want to create real jobs online, they’d do better to try and support internet connectivity efforts rather that point guys to Writerbay. That is, not to freaking mislead jobless youth to hop on to the Online Dollar Dream “mbus”, work at home kind of scammy stuff by coming up with a link-centric website that throngs guys to a professional site that’s no way in need of the publicity stunt.
I think the government would do much better to rethink and re-develop Ajira from a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) angle. The Philippines is an excellent case study and benchmark to learn some well needed tips from.
As many of those in agreement say Ay? The Ays have it.
Sharoooon hi 🙂
It’s always a pleasure reading from you.
Sure, I love looking out for Kenyan freelancers. It’s my hope that the industry produces some great names by 2020. People who do things that have never been done here before.
“Kookle”, “Kenyazon” etc hehehe…I hope God grants me wisdom and ability to come up with such, or better. It doesn’t have to be me though. We have very intelligent people around. I’m sure great things will start cropping up soon.
Thank you too oooo… 🙂
I think the government is not serious with its claim of creating 1 million jobs through Ajira. To newbies, the Ajira thing seems a positive step, to experienced online workers are really worried about the security of the job they do. The government should focus on other ventures that will create the 1 million jobs online but the writing, transcribing and such stuff they are popularizing cannot deliver on that promise.
Hi Ben,
Yes, that is totally unrealistic at the moment. 1 million jobs in a year is not a walk in the park, especially in these online streets. It really needs a strategy that’s just out of this world.
I totally agree with your observation=====”After many young Kenyans join all these sites and don’t get the intended results, there are high chances that they’ll just quit online work. Soon after this, Ajira Digital will become an obsolete and forgotten site.”
The worst mistake will be to create the impression that “online jobs” are out there just waiting to be picked. I heard the PS give an example of doing a 10k job in one day………for a new comer? Keep dreaming
Apart from the exposure Ajira is saying nothing new for now.
THE REVERSE-QUAIL EFFECT has the potential of creating disappointment with the government so-called initiative.
Hi Sammy,
Thanks for your response.
Some of the things that have been said are downright unrealistic at the moment. I really hope the reverse-quail effect is avoided soon – and replaced with a proper, sustainable plan.
Thanks Walter.
I think my fellow Kenyans need offline jobs because that is what they are taught in their former institutions. Things are no that bad for unemployed youths to call a mere link ; ” one million job” let’s the government talk of something else.
Thanks Zack. Indeed, a plan to create one million jobs should at least be clearer than this.
Let me tell you something ; When the government of any state fails to perform, these are some of the impacts. Why don’t they innovate an online strategy to combat corruption ? Then, the millions dollars that we are losing daily can support the forgotten lot to buy products and market them ? Can we call this employment ? Let them revive NYS project and the so called youths will develop some guts to listen to this jokes !!
Finally, there is absolutely nothing to worry about as everyone knows that this online work is not for every unemployed guy out there, this is where talent and commitment decides who will and who should not be.
The strategy at the moment is indeed wanting. Yes, the market will always balance itself. But I do feel for the many that may be left frustrated after a while. Something better and more thorough needs to be done.
Good piece and insights, however, let me state that AJIRA stuff is the greatest joke of the year in 2016. How can a real govt. create a site to direct Kenyan youths to third party sites they have no clue about? Do they understand the price to pay? Do they understand the dedication requirements and the restrictions that most sites have? If yes, then the government would have something better like outsourcing some of the government jobs to the site rather than directing clueless youths to the jungle.
Thanks Mike. I really hope they actually outsource jobs online. That would be a better start.
I think this government is full of jokers. Why can’t they use all the billions they have stolen to create more jobs?
Samuel hi. Sadly this comes at a time when there have been so many scandals. I’m really trying to believe in it since I believe that there may have been some good motive in creating it. However, things will need to be done better for this whole thing to survive. I really, really hope there’s nothing bad cooking. I love being as positive as I can be.
Great piece Walter,
I look at the Ajira thing as an over-ambitious project by the government. Its not worth creating a million workers with no guaranteed jobs for them. The government should re-think the project and focus more on creating the jobs more than creating the workers.
Nevertheless, it is still an opportunity for those who will be able to think outside the box;-A million more people will be online and most likely become active users of the internet. Look at them as a market.
Exactly, David. Bright and dedicated people will still highly benefit from a huge market of incoming freelancers. Trainers, for example, can end up doubling or even tripling their income. However, bringing so many people into a small pool has its side effects. That’s what we’re trying to avoid.
This is a serous joke from the government. Surely they can think of better ways of creating job opportunities for the unemployed young Kenyans. We are doing just fine without the government as freelancers at least for for now. I just hope they won’t proceed with this. Otherwise, thanks Walter for the insights.
Hi Joshua. I’m really hoping they do things better. It would be great to see better times in the online arena. However, I totally feel you. The impression many got, according to lots of feedback I’ve received, was that we were actually doing just fine without all this.
Ajira is here indeed!
I appreciate your well laid out opinion, that has reached to all the stakeholders involved. As a newbie that was and is still ready to join the “struggling workforce”, I can only hope and pray to The God of miracles to intervene in this seemingly possible crisis and continue to grant the survivors the means of success in their career. Through the great storm a new chapter will result from enduring any possible mishap(s) as in any other adventure. We must and can only hope for the best! Also expect that what comes will not be sooo bad and for a short while
Hi Ann,
Im glad you’re a newbie ready to join the workforce. It is still a great time to start. Just make sure you read as much as you can about it and implement the right tips.
I love the fact that you’ve mentioned prayers. We can overcome all battles through prayer. In fact, by faith, this can be turned around and become one of the biggest blessings Kenya has ever had. It just needs to be fine tuned.
Insightful piece Walter. To me, the Ajira initiative is very positive. Kenyans are innovative. We will find ways to create jobs. Right now I’m thinking how this will increase e-commerce right here in Kenya. And corporate companies will start using digital marketing and branding techniques to capture this massive market. This means, they will need content creators, digital marketers, web designers, graphic designers, etc. We should not keep looking at foreign markets while we have such great potential right here.
Personally, I’m tired of writing for Asian middle-men and ghostwriting for American writers who end up getting a by-line from my work. Yes, we have too many people seeking jobs here, but the potential for creating markets and employment is greater in Africa than anywhere else in the world. We have lots of catching up to do, and Ajira is promoting the narrowing of that gap.
Hi Felix,
I like your thinking regarding this Ajira thing. Its will raise some awareness which is very much needed towards e-commerce success in Kenya. The one million target users are a market by themselves in so many ways. If the concept is changed from “importing” jobs to creating them among the 1 million the feat can be achieved in less than 1yr.
Exactly Sam. All you need to do is check out Facebook and see how many small, medium, and big businesses are trying to do online marketing. Check out Groups and pages. That’s a huge market for online writers and marketers who can help the existing businesses achieve their goals, even without creating new markets. And all local, where our writers can use English, Swahili, Sheng, and any of the 42 tribes to sell to localized markets. Blogs targeting smartphones can do well here, since computers and fiber internet are still not so common outside Nairobi. Other types of content can do well too, such as vlogs and voice podcasts if only we can embrace it. This are easily shareable even through WhatsApp
Thanks Abur.
If it was created along those lines, encouraging innovation and an increase in e-commerce movement, that would have been great.
However, this is tailored to create more of those people you’re actually tired of being. It would have been great, for example, to market job creation instead of the jobs themselves.
Let me explain.
I can decide to go on TV and talk about how guys can become awesome freelance writers. I can direct them to iWriter, PayPerContent etc. Some may succeed, but the jobs there may not be enough for them all.
On the other hand, I can go on TV and talk about how people earn online, how great ecommerce is, how billions are going to be spent on mobile, how marketing automation has grown, how everyone needs a site, the importance of help desk software, how people can earn from Amazon etc.
This would create an increase of entrepreneurs online, some of whom will heavily succeed. Through this, those web designers, article writers, transcribers, graphic designers etc will get jobs working for the above businesses, therefore building a very vibrant economy.
Thanks Walter for such a detailed and informative piece.
Thanks too, Eddy.
What a joke of a government we have here! It creates a million workers instead of a million jobs. (:
It doesn’t add up, Gladys. Right?
Good job Walter; you nailed it bro! I especially like your outro “I project that by 2020 we’ll have legitimate online billionaires in Kenya. Let’s take charge of our success” and plan to do something major about it. I hope that we all professional freelancers do likewise.
Thanks Reuben. It pays to make lemonade, right? I strongly believe we’ll get there 🙂
I have observed Kenyan society regarding fast wealth creation,There were the pyramid schemes which made several Kenyans frustrated to a point of committing suicide. quilamid scheme latter followed where farmers took bank loans and the rest is hi! story.I have known the rise of political temperatures whenever an election nears.The ‘youth” to be absorbed by Ajira will automatically be told to have ID cards to “register” Common sense will dictate that one will hold a voters card to be a “full citizen”,and obviously behave accordingly in the ballot box for the person who gave you the job. Anyway time will tell.
Thanks Joseph. Indeed, only time will tell.
The whole Ajira thing is a hoax. It seems like the government wants to know the exact number of online freelancers in the market and see if it can be controlled.
Writing is a talent, and if the government wants to promote talents, why haven’t they established dedicated websites that train athletes, give them tips and advice of how to perform better? Why is the same government not promoting those in the creative and visual arts as this can also create more ’employment opportunities’.
The government is misguided on this thing. They say that some state departments may post jobs on Ajira platform and this is just a speculation. The gov. is not creating any jobs to its people, some will be frustrated and will quit even before they make the first shilling.
The Ajira website should be pulled down and then bring it back after they have jobs on board. Can we really trust the government that we shall get our dues on time? That is another issue. Every now and then, civil servants are on the streets due to unpaid allowances, promotions and salaries. Suppliers always complain of delayed payments and the like.
Hi Titus
We cannot TRUST the gov. of Kenya on issues of freelancing, we looked for 8-5 jobs offline and failed despite us being highly qualified. We got the idea of freelancing by word of mouth, hustled to get laptops (you ask Walter), learnt freelancing tricks, and lastly diversified and had multiple streams of income. Here we are making a living writing, just as Carol likes to put it, and just before elections the gov. puts up a blog and says “Creating 1 Million jobs for the youths”.
I believe that the persons who were creating that platform have very little knowledged about freelancing. Finding your niche, knowing what you are best at, looking for clients, marketing strategies, and competing with other millions of online workers in every sphere. Lastly, online work is not for everyone, and not just anyone can do it-some even give up during the learning process. You ask people who are earning over $1000 per month and they’ll tell you it’s not a walk in the park-deadlines nayo? ha ha ha!
Benjamin,
Well put, I have tried to introduce some guys who really need money to content writing but they couldn’t pass through the learning phase. Why? most want fast money and don’t have the resilience to wait and see their business grow. The campaign period is around the corner and the government will use this project as a campaigning tool to tell the illiterate lot back in the village and urban settings that the youths have been empowered.
Am not a veteran in the field but there are things that the site fails to address. How many entrants can pass the grammar test or submit convincing samples on sites such as PayPerContent or writersDomain? Lets wait and see whether there will be any improvements in the near future.
Hi Benjamin,
I agree with you totally. Whoever created the Ajira website/blog has very little knowledge of online work. And the site is really not adding much value if they are not providing any jobs and are just posting some almost useless links. Personally, I wouldn’t advise anyone to enroll on Ajira as a worker just yet, especially if you’re already earning online from your own initiatives.
However, I believe for a bright person, there are a few things you can take advantage of. First, Ajira has this section for support centers. You can set up a support center and leverage this to earn much more. It might even gain you access to the youth fund to grow your business.
Secondly, the government is making use of a huge budget to market their platform. You can ride on this to create awareness, strategically position your content business, and reach out to local and foreign companies seeking competent freelance services.
All in all, freelancers with better ideas can create a platform that’s better than the govt’s Ajira and reap many benefits that Ajira currently isn’t providing.
Hi Titus,
Sure, it seems to be really misguided on this one.
I hope things change soon, before this goes too far.
Walter,
As usual, you’ve said it all. You’ve looked at every side of the coin and laid it out without any reservations. Congratulations to you Walter.
It not only takes experience to be able to see things so clearly, it takes BOLDNESS to lay it bare for all to see. Yes, it is true as George Ogutu put it that the onus is with those of us who are already on course with online work, to strategise and stay RELEVANT in the industry.
Talk about scrutiny,,,,,you scrutinized every aspect of it and put it down in the best way possible, not just to the struggling online workers, the yet-to-be online workers, but the government as well. Your message is well researched and clear and you’ve done your part.
Once again, THANK YOU.
Hi Elizabeth,
Indeed, I had to ensure I do proper research for this. It’s one of those areas where I feel like, if it’s well done, lots of good things can happen. But if poorly done, lots of bad things can also come out of it.
Hi Walter,
Thanks for the insights at least you’ve given the pros and cons of the Ajira site which I think is commendable. I hope the government will look into those areas to work on its initiative.
Thanks Imelda. I hope so too.
It’s good to know the actual impacts of the ‘soon-to=be-forgotten’ Ajira. Kenyans will eventually give up due to the difficulties of online jobs, and they will just return to their offline jobs.
Besides, many Kenyans still don’t believe online jobs are real – even after telling them about the PayPal-Equity Bank partnership.
Hi, I just stated above that online work is nothing like snap your finger pie in the sky stuff. It’s pretty difficult especially when starting, gets complicated when you are learning, and even gets complex when you want to take advantage of multiple income streams.
If you want to know the government is not sincere; ask yourself how many youths know how to do online research? It’s a fact that the majority live in rural areas and most even don’t believe you can earn a living by working online, leave alone stima kupotea now and then. Network nayo?
Do they want to help the youth man working online? then let them come up with loan facilities for the online worker. However, I doubt if they can do anything of the sort with the rampant stealing of money from public coffers. In my opinion, this stuff will disappear very, very soon, it cant stand the test of time.
Hi Evans. Creating jobs is not that easy. There have to be availability of jobs and qualified workers to do it. For example, since we were in primary school we were taught how to do farming. Lots of us don’t do it. So creating awareness and directing people to sites does not really create jobs. Only the qualified who are willing to walk the walk will be able to make it.
The government has totally failed to live to its promises of offering a million jobs to youths each year. Now they are looking for a way to convince voters to vote them back in the coming election by coming up with this ajira thing which, in my opinion, is not more than a shambled up blog with no so much meaningful content.
“The fact that some people will not earn as well as they think will lead to an increase in depression and hopelessness among youth, which is dangerous to a society.” I guess this is what will exactly happen Walter, especially given their unrealistic promises that online workers will be earning 2200 per day.
The government is, sorry to say, so pathetic.
Thanks Dan. I really hope this is not some shammed up campaign strategy, but something genuinely created for a good cause. If that’s the case, then it really needs some thorough restrategizing.
Hi Walter,
Thanks for the very informative piece on the latest government “initiative” to create jobs for the youth.
It is quite interesting to see the reaction of the stakeholders in the industry.
The fact is:the government has the right to know about what is happening to every facet of its citizenry, and desire to be in the middle of it.
Methinks that if the stakeholders could filter the emotional reactions and brainstorm on ways to engage the government,much more light could be shed,as opposed to the heat currently generated.
Check facts:many of our youth both in and out of the online writing business, are very apolitical.
Who knows,this may be the opportunity for creating a credible youth lobby group that can engage the government on serious policy matters affecting our lives.
We may not like the government in power and their policies, we may even not participate in voting.The sad reality is that the government of the day will always affect our lives directly.
like somebody said “tupende,tusipende.”My take is;this is an opportunity which if seized, can produce marvelous opportunities and uplift the wellbeing of many.
The Kenya online entrepreneurs have charted an incredible presence in the international digital platform, with very meager resources and “zero” support from the establishment.
How much more can we achieve if we are to harness the synergies and proactively engage the government on this one?Just food for thoughts….
Gitau,
You are fairly positive about this and i like your line of thought regarding the Kenyan digital site. But I want you to close your eyes and imagine one million young online workers……trained and equipped for online work.
Then, think about your own household and let’s say for example, you are raising five children. Because you’re their parent, ask them what they would want to become when they grow up……..?
You can tell what is going on in my mind as I write this……I work online because it is a choice I made, I use the skills I acquired in my training for employment and I got employed before opting to take online work seriously.
Getting to where I am now, as a online worker has not been easy but I’m assured of my daily bread. Is the government going to apply the “Upende Usipende” ?law? as a way of engaging youth and getting them on the path to earning?………Just a thought………..
Hi Liz, I would like to assure you that this ajira stuff is a campaign thing. Its ridiculous how politicians and the gov. takes everything for granted. I remember quite well online work was something our VP Ruto said time and again, they check their manifesto and what? they haven’t touched on that in anyway and so in a hush-hush manner come up with a site…if you follow the campaigns closely you will hear about it. Its simply a bait-lets see how soon it will be upgraded keep your fingers crossed!
Hi Gitau, it’s a dream far fetched whenever ‘us’ freelancers think that the government can create a lobby group out of an amorphous group of online writers/marketers. If any youth desires to engage with the gov. its much better to seek an elective post. What happened to kazi kwa vijana, youth parliament, youth tender legislative rules, sisi tusaidiane wenyewe kwa wenyewe. You involve the government be sure things will go wrong-the timing is also wrong.
Guess what? the gov. has statistics on the amount of dollars circulating in the economy and they just realized wow! hawa watoto wanaingiza pesa mingi sana, wacha tufanya hivi-they could have simply read Freelancerkenya.com to get a glimpse of what freelancing is all about-I do not trust THEM.
Hi Gitau,
It’s always a pleasure reading from you.
I agree that people can actually engage the government and come up with positive aspects of this. That’s what I was trying to do with this post and I’m glad the CS himself has also commented. I hope that with increased collaboration, this will be fine-tuned into something great.
While the government may have had good intentions by introducing Ajira Digital, it did not involve all stakeholders. It should have consulted the current online workers to find out the challenges they are facing before adding more workers to the market. For instance, those computers being used by class one pupils would have been more beneficial to struggling writers who cannot afford a PC to work online. The cost of internet is also high, and there is no electricity in some areas.
Also, a tab where online workers can be hired would be welcome instead of directing them only to other sites some of which charge freelancers and clients exorbitant fees.
There’s no good will , they’ve smelt $$ and so cast a bait. The site will remain pretty the same for a long, long time, as the money for upgrades shall be stolen and freelancers shall be fleeced. It’s much better having a hard-to deal with client, or a client who disappears with your money, than con government officials dedicated to poking holes in your wallet
Well said, Eunice.
Wow, deeply incisive bro. Thanks
Thanks Marx.
Ajira is a half baked approach to addressing joblessness. 2017 Politics is responsible for all we’re seeing. Unless you have both hands in the business (1. Demand & 2. Supply) you should never talk of creating thousands/million job opportunities.
And from whatever the CS has been saying, he is clearly clueless.
One big question is; he says that they are sending youth officers to the counties. Who are these youth officers and what exactly do they know about online freelancing. I’ll follow this down to my county and get to understand exactly the much they know. After all you can only give what you have.
yeah, I hope you get the time I will really be interested in what you find out. One thing is that is that this online thing is pretty practical nothing that you’re taught in classroom. In fact, most of clients will ask you to show published pieces(for content marketing) and will NEVER give a damn on your academic qualification-so do they mean they will teach youths on how to make ablog, use keywords, monetize it, and at the same time write English like “a native’. It’s a fallacy!
Hi Kim. Indeed it’s half baked. They need to bake the other half soon to make it work.
With the government of kenya, you can never be too careful. Our government never gets interested in anything for nothing. Right now you are just seeing a sheep starting Ajira , but that is actually a wolf. If someone has whispered to the govnmt ‘s ear that people are making money online ,then it starts salivating on how to get its hands in the cookie jar. Otherwise ask yourself why are almost all factories in the country dead and defunct, so you think when the government jumps in online business it will be business as usual? There is nothing the government of kenya has done that one can say is good or can make someone become proud. We just have misplaced priorities as a nation.
Thanks Evelyn. I believe there are some people in government who are trying their best. However, indeed we’ve seen some very sad things that have happened over the years. Many online workers don’t really have faith in this, unless it is redone, and this time done well.
Kenya is known to be a corrupt country. Imagine carrying that tag to an international platform. Many clients trust kenyan writers at an individual level. However, if the government gets involved in this I can assure things will get worse. Trust is very important in this field and that is something that Kenya is lacking.
First of all where was the government when we lacked jobs? A majority of writers today ventured into online work because we had no alternatives in this country. Now through hard work this platform has become lucrative and they ( Govt) want to pretend that the success we have realized is part of their effort. Their aim here is to tax us even more when they get their filthy hands on this area. We arrived here without them let them stay away from here. We have never asked for their help because it would never come.
Definitely our success is not their effort. In fact, most individual success is not due to the government. However, something really needs to be done to prove that this is indeed a worthy venture. At the moment, most freelancers feel like they were better off before this. Many are yearning to be proved wrong. There are many people with great ideas that can revamp this, if only the government will listen.
I don’t want to be negative but I have no choice here.
This to me is an example of a government machinery that has no idea what it is doing or at best is trying to pretend to do something.
When I read about it, I was happy to note that probably the government was willing to offer some its jobs to work at home dads and moms. What I saw instead was a website with links to other websites. Obviously someone got some money for designing and creating a website with links to other websites.
I would suggest that whoever came up with this idea refunds tax payer money.
I thought someone could get a job there but I found links to iwriter, kuhustle, and freelancerkenya. I’m sure Walter you don’t mind a link from a gov’t institution to your website.
But there is nothing to help the youth in this country get a job, let alone an online job.
On the front page, they are also talking about certifying…In what? Online jobs certification?
I don’t want to say much. Guys like you Walter, and Sam from kuhustle have done more and will continue doing more for the unemployed youth in Kenya than that Ajira website shall ever do.
It’s a shame really that the gov’t can want to use this as an example of job creation.
I would like to say more but this is a public forum and would not like to be sent to kamiti for expressing my utter disgust at this website.
Hi Alex,
Thanks for your kind words about what FreelancerKenya has achieved.
Hahahaha 🙂
Many people were really trying not to be negative. In fact many exploded on social media and said all kinds of negative trash when it was launched.
I agree that this is not really job creation, and not the best attempt at awareness creation.
Hahaha 🙂 the Kamiti part is hilarious.
I think you are coiling around the real fact. To be honest, online academic writing is NOT an ethical act and MUST not be propagated in openness like the government did. In other words, this is promoting the global sense of “Kenya is unethical” The government also promotes. Count all the bad stuffs that we are known of, so this is also just adding up on the stack. We would rather play “chini ya maji” as it was before.
I think you’re spot on, especially ‘chini ya maji’ ha ha ha!
Hi Joakim. They pulled down everything on academic writing.
Hello Walter,
This must have taken you time to put together. Congrats. You have mentioned so much that is very likely to happen. The government could help a lot more by looking for jobs locally and posting them at competitive rates rather than simply leading the huge pack to an already very competitive field.
Local advertising for instance – things like Faiba could earn the freelance community a lot more if they were done online. Transcription, Translation, various marketing activities such as optimization, keyword articles to improve visibility of NGO’s and government web sites would make this lofty goal easier to reach.
In addition to that I believe getting quality training resources for a wide range of specialties such as App design, programming, language learning, database management, networking, etc at a reasonable fee will expand the playing field sensibly – we cannot all write or blog. I agree with many who feel Ajira should upgrade at the very least to allow those who join a quality and consistent opportunity to find work and grow. It is unrealistic to just draw in a huge crowd without considering how the already existing practitioners work, earn, improve.
Those are my thoughts and Ill read again and maybe add a few later.
Akumu
Well put Akumu. There are so many ideas being floated about this. I really hope they get heard and implemented.
Hello my fellow freelancers
This is my introduction to you my fellow freelancers and a sign of my
renewed commitment to my career as a freelancer.
I started freelancing back in late 2010 and have been at it to date.
Many of my peers today are still freelancing and continue to enjoy the
rewards of freelance work. A lot has changed though which has me
thinking if I have engaged the correct gear? I recently commented on a
blog about the Ajira Kenya website a development that had me thinking.
Read on.
I still believe Ajira will struggle before it has any serious impact
on freelance work in Kenya. Why? The ongoing problems on the busy KRA
website and the long delays when processing tax returns – it is
clearly in need of a system upgrade. It’s anybody’s guess when Ajira
Kenya will get the required support but that’s not really a concern is
it – I already work here.
Nevertheless lest we forget this could be a good sign. ANY growing
economy can even today or right now implement a similar concept WITH
the necessary backing. In just the stroke of a pen lives change
everywhere and everyday yours and mine are no different. Competition
is healthy isn’t it we write that every day – I will discuss
competition in my first blog.
I choose to act first. I will each day take into account and
thoroughly scrutinize my efforts to improve and sustain my freelancing
career. I will begin or at the very least try to become my own most
critical judge.
I also would like to extend sincere appreciation to fellow freelancers
– Kudos Mr. Walter Akolo for the job alerts they have been very
useful. I believe this is not time to get lost in the storm I would
rather begin/resume am not sure what would be more accurate taking
control. I have never enjoyed the backseat and prefer to hold the
reigns and have a clear view of the horizon.
I believe now is the time to start blogging. What I am certain of is I
will be working much harder. I am eager and have already started my
journey and hope you will join me and enjoy the highlights as we
approach and prepare for the New Year.
My take is that the govt may have had good intentions in coming up with the initiative. However, as has been the case in most of its other endeavors, the people it involved in coming up with the initiative misled it. I believe, though, that if the good intentions are allowed to take preeminence in this whole thing, it will be relooked at and presented the right way. Adjustments that have been made to the Ajira site since its launch are akin to editing a bad copy; they won’t help much. A good outcome can only be reached if, from the start, every effort is made to guarantee the good outcome. Otherwise, the whole thing will not be any different from the numerous failed govt projects in the physical realm.
As for the anticipated changes in online work, these were bound to come either way. The academic writing niche, for instance, is on the verge of significant changes that will alter it forever, or even force it under in the worst case scenario. Thus, those who make noise on the grounds that the govt, through the Ajira platform, will mess up academic writing, are simply refusing to face the reality on the ground.
To sum up, every Kenyan in the online workspace is bound to be affected by these changes. The onus is, thus, on every serious online worker to strategize to stay relevant to the industry. The industry is maturing up and will only have room for those who bring value to it.
George Ogut,
Thumbs up, you’ve just mentioned everything I had on mind. The approach to the Ajira idea was entirely wrong. One can feel some “Air of Excitement” behind this whole thing….creating Ajira for one million Kenyan youth. Personally, I think this whole thing will just die the same “natural death” we’ve seen around for a long time. Walter has just said it all in the Pros and Cons and all intelligent youth should take that and weigh their options before they make their decisions for the future.
Thanks George. Indeed, success will only take individual effort. Whether or not this succeeds, we need to really do our best. Great facts and analysis up there on some inevitable trends.
Your are the best
Thanks Isaac.
All I ever dreamed of was to work online….. From my home. Since 2012 have been opening accounts, bidding for jobs but no luck. Am so saddened that when I have finally met people who can train me and make my dream come true, the government might take this away from me. But as your article says, those who are in the position of providing online jobs to qualified Kenyans, this is the time.
Thanks Walter. It was a good read.
Thanks Felistah. Don’t let this or anything else put you down. Keep going for your dreams. True success takes lots of individual effort. Meanwhile, let’s hope the government will read and implement some of the ideas floated.
Wow. What a wonderful piece you have there Walter.
I agree with you on eveything. The government should first strive to create online jobs, or make it easy for other players to join the online market, and then after that– only after creating jobs should they then go ahead and entice Kenyans about those jobs.
Ajira is another case of yet too fast but too late. In the sense that, they didn’t take time to rethink the whole thing. Someone was like, “Oh, many Kenyans now want to work from home on their PCs– lets create a platform with links on it. ”
No that won’t work, a lot of sites– Kenyans and non-Kenyans have already beat you to it.
Too late, in the sense that– let’s face it, some Kenyans have been working online since 2009 without the government’s help, what makes them think they’ll be sorting for help now.
Advice to the government.
Pull Ajira down. Rethink the whole thing. And next time sort advice from the online players before doing something that will affect them directly.
P. s If the government really wants to help why not start by making things easy for the already existing freelancers? I don’t know if this is in their field– they should engourage more Kenyan banks to team up with paypal to enable direct withdrawal of our funds from it.
Start small.
Very well said Erickson.
That’s quite a long exposee of the whole Ajira Project Walter. When I heard of Ajira, I expected a Kenyan version of Upwork to be born. The Govt would outsource all its minor tasks such as Web development & maintenance. It can also be possible to Transcribe company meetings and seminars by the youths. In the meantime, the Govt can partner with Google & Microsoft to offer softwares engineering to the youths. At least, that would be worth receiving from the Govt. But when the Govt posts links for foreign Companies, in the name of creating 1M jobs, it’s the greatest Humour of the year.
Hi Sammy, you made me laugh. ha ha ha; the site is of poor quality too.
Great points, Sammy.
Despite the fact that it looks like ajira digital might bring competition, a freelancer who thinks outside the box and diversify can use it as an opportunity to earn online more income.
For example, many people will start to google how to make money online e.t.c. If you have a blog or create a blog you can write about it and put some ads there that you can earn per click.You can also do affiliate marketing with some writing sites using the blog.
well I don’t know much,just thinking.
Sure, Dorine. Great thinking and some of the powerful thinkers will still continue soaring. Good to always be proactive, with or without Ajira.
Dorine, you lost me. How can Ajira possibly bring any competition just by posting links that are already there and known to all?
I don’t trust the Government Walter. Some individuals in these Government have magnetic fingers. Some genius will soon come up with an idea of how to swindle these soon-to-be government sponsored freelancers their hard-earned cash. Something nasty is just about to happen and its not about being a pessimist. You know it.
Freelance should be free from government interference at least for now until they bring something new on board.
That’s another big problem Isaac. Most people have trust issues.
Honestly, I am saddened by the fact that the government has meandered and found its way to the online jobs. This means only one thing to me. “Things will soon go haywire” I have never cared what they say (The Govt) All i know is that they just destroy where their hands are laid. I know them too well. It’s time Online workers Seek their exit plans…Invest outside writing…Coz soon This government will drill us hard. These guys have heard there is money online and all they are interested is taxing us. Soon we’ll be going 50:50 with them. Man,I hate that. In fact we should protest…if they make more advances. I don’t want to go back to Drug trafficking agan…ok I have never been in drugs …but…i could you Know.
Thanks Dominic. That last sentence hahahahaha.
Thanks Walter for writing a well thought and researched piece on a topic that has generated so much heat and insults.
Thanks too, Jane.
This is quite interesting based on the fact that the ajira stuff pops up just before election year. Nevertheless, online competition is for the BIG hearted and I know for sure if you are not focused you just can’t make it. It’s not child play as most people tend to think, neither is it so complex as some imagine. Freelancers should now start preparing to be HEAVILY taxed in the coming few years-I’m really suspicious of this government strategy to offer 1 MILLION jobs.
Thanks Benjamin. Let’s remain proactive and keep doing our best despite of all this. That way whether it succeeds or fails, we still make it as individuals.
Umegonga ndipo. I like the positivity and the tone of your. We can still go far. Challenges are meant to make us stronger….
Asante Aloise. Indeed we can and should go far.
We have come too far for this to be messed by afew individuals. Let the government pull this down and Look for ideas from real freelancers not greedy entrepreneurs who need quick training money.
Thanks MinTal. Indeed, things should be done properly so that the initiative succeeds.