New data from a report by Bolt in partnership with Ipsos shows that over 50% of gig workers in Kenya now rely on it as their primary source of income.
According to the report, Kenya’s gig economy now supports approximately 1.5 million workers. This accounts for about 5–6% of the country’s labour force. The sector generates an estimated $1.09 billion (KES ~140 billion) annually.
Soyinka Witness, Strategy Director, Ipsos said, “The findings from this study highlight the increasingly important role platform-based work is playing in Kenya’s evolving labour market. More than half of ride-hailing drivers rely on these platforms as their primary source of income, while many others use them to supplement existing earnings.”
E-commerce leads Kenya’s gig economy with 42% of participants, followed by ride-hailing (22%), freelancing (17%), microtasks (10%) and remote work (9%).
According to the report, 98% of participants say their standard of living has improved while 54% report a significant improvement.
Dimmy Kanyankole, Senior General Manager, East Africa said, “As digital platforms continue to evolve, ride-hailing is increasingly becoming an important source of income and economic empowerment for many Kenyans. These findings reinforce the role that platform-based work plays in enabling people to earn flexibly while supporting their livelihoods.”
“With 53% relying on it as a primary source of income, it shows commitment to the sector,” one panelist noted, adding that the focus should now shift toward strengthening, rather than stifling, the ecosystem through policy.
Bolt emphasized the need for a balanced regulatory approach and warned against policies that could inadvertently stifle growth.
“Policy has to promote and reinforce the platforms that are creating this value,” a company representative said. Advocating for a holistic framework that considers the full ecosystem rather than focusing on single issues like pricing or commissions.
The report also highlights a huge gender imbalance within the gig economy. The ride-hailing space, for example, has up to 97% of participants being male and only 3% as female.
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