By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
In Nairobi, the word “hustle” isn’t slang — it’s a lifestyle. Everyone’s got a side gig, a weekend hustle, or a low-key empire. Don’t be surprised if your Uber driver is also a DJ, owns a farm, trades crypto, sells perfumes, and still has time to pitch you a business idea before you hit traffic.
The Side Hustle Olympics
If side hustling were an Olympic sport, Kenya would take gold — every time. There’s no such thing as “just one job” here. People juggle so many hustles you’d think the economy was built on juggling.
Examples:
- A bank teller selling handbags from the trunk of her car
- A software engineer who runs a poultry farm on the side
- A student who edits TikToks, writes CVs, repairs phones, and manages three Instagram thrift pages
🧠 Fun Fact: There are WhatsApp groups strictly for “business plugs.” One group had a guy selling boiled eggs in the morning, selling insurance at lunch, and pitching land plots by dinner.
🪙 Side Note: Don’t ask someone in Nairobi what they do for a living unless you have 45 minutes and a notepad.
📦 Wild Hustle Alert: A guy turned an abandoned bus into a barbershop, internet café, and juice bar. In that order.
Shamba Pride
Owning land — or at least talking about it — is a national obsession. If someone disappears for the weekend, they’re probably “going to the shamba” (farm), even if it’s just half an acre, two goats, and a dream.
💡 Tidbit: There’s a shamba owner in Meru who runs goat yoga retreats. Seriously.
🗣️ Quote from a Nairobi resident: “My shamba is only 0.5 acres, but emotionally, it’s 5,000.”
🎤 Observation: No one will ever say “I don’t have land.” They’ll say, “We are still working on something in Kitengela.” Even if that “something” is just a screenshot from a land-buying group chat.
Digital Dreams
Tech is booming, and Nairobi’s becoming a digital beehive. Coders, influencers, forex traders, and content creators are carving out careers faster than ever — and doing it from Java House with two power banks and a ring light.
🧠 Fun Fact: Nairobi is nicknamed “Silicon Savannah.” The only difference? You’ll code during the day and herd cows in the evening (remotely).
💸 TikTok Hustle: One guy built a 100K+ follower base reviewing mandazi from different estates. Another went viral for teaching Swahili using Bible verses and Nairobi gossip.
🧠 Genius Alert: There’s a boda rider who became a YouTuber and now gives career advice in traffic. He once said, “YouTube pays more than my ex’s love.”
📶 Tech Tip: Wi-Fi is strong… until the neighbor starts ironing. Then your Zoom meeting becomes a game of freeze tag.
Final Word
The Nairobian hustle is an art form. It’s the fusion of ambition, adaptability, and a whole lot of faith. Everyone is chasing something — whether it’s a bag, a dream, or peace of mind.
And somehow, despite the chaos, it all works. Kenya isn’t waiting for opportunities. It’s making them. One hustle at a time — fueled by data bundles, dreams, and divine audacity.
Next up in Chapter Twenty-One:
“Tea, Chapati, and the Secrets of Kenyan Kitchens.”
About the Author
John is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of JS Morlu, LLC, a Virginia based CPA firm with multiple software ventures including www.FinovatePro.com, www.Recksoft.com and www.Fixaars.com . With operations spanning multiple countries, John is on a mission to build global infrastructure that empowers small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. He believes in hard truths, smart execution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. When he’s not writing or building, he’s challenging someone to a productivity contest—or inventing software that automates it.
