Hustling To Survive: Kenyans Turn To Side Jobs As Economic Strain Deepens
By David Kimani
Nearly four in ten Kenyans have sought secondary jobs or alternative income sources this year as households struggle to cope with mounting economic pressures, according to a new Infotrak survey released Tuesday. The poll revealed that 39 percent of respondents admitted to taking on additional employment or side hustles in 2025 to offset rising costs and declining purchasing power. Another 26 percent reported cutting back on non-essential spending, while 22 percent borrowed money from friends or family. Smaller but significant proportions relied on loans or credit (15 percent), leaned on community support (15 percent), or rationed limited resources (11 percent).
The findings underscore the depth of financial insecurity gripping Kenyan households, painting a stark picture of families juggling multiple strategies just to stay afloat. “Households are increasingly feeling the pinch, with many having to juggle multiple strategies just to make ends meet,” the report noted, warning that without urgent interventions, the pressure on families may continue to mount.
The survey comes against the backdrop of a challenging economic landscape in 2025. Kenya’s overall growth has been revised downward to 4.5 percent, weighed down by high public debt, elevated interest rates, and weak private sector credit. These factors have squeezed businesses, slowed job creation, and eroded household incomes. Despite modest wage increases, real earnings declined, leaving many Kenyans unable to keep pace with the rising cost of living. Revenue shortfalls and fiscal vulnerabilities have further strained government budgets, widening deficits and slowing investment in critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
Economic analysts point to a combination of global and domestic factors behind the strain. Internationally, sluggish demand and volatile commodity prices have hurt exports, while domestically, inflationary pressures have persisted due to high fuel costs and food insecurity. The weakening shilling has compounded the problem, making imports more expensive and driving up consumer prices. For ordinary Kenyans, the result has been a relentless squeeze on household budgets, forcing them to innovate or compromise in order to survive.
The rise of side hustles has become emblematic of this struggle. From online freelancing and digital marketing to boda boda riding, small-scale farming, and informal retail, Kenyans are diversifying their income streams in unprecedented ways. Social media platforms are awash with stories of professionals moonlighting as entrepreneurs, teachers tutoring after hours, and civil servants running small businesses on weekends. The hustle culture, once celebrated as a sign of resilience, is increasingly seen as a necessity born of economic desperation.
Community support networks have also played a crucial role. Informal savings groups, known locally as chamas, continue to provide a lifeline for families facing financial strain. These groups pool resources to offer loans, cushion members against emergencies, and provide a sense of solidarity in difficult times. Yet even these networks are under pressure, as widespread hardship reduces the ability of members to contribute consistently.
The government has acknowledged the challenges but faces limited fiscal space to respond. High debt servicing costs have constrained public spending, while revenue collection has fallen short of targets. Efforts to stimulate growth through infrastructure projects and industrial expansion have been slowed by budgetary constraints and weak investor confidence. Critics argue that the administration has not done enough to cushion households from the rising cost of living, pointing to delayed subsidies, inadequate social protection programs, and insufficient support for small businesses.
Civil society groups have called for urgent reforms to strengthen social safety nets, expand access to affordable credit, and address structural weaknesses in the economy. They warn that without decisive action, the growing reliance on side hustles and informal support networks could entrench inequality and undermine long-term development. “The hustle economy is not sustainable,” one analyst observed. “It reflects resilience, yes, but it also reflects systemic failure to provide decent jobs and secure livelihoods.”
The Infotrak survey also highlights generational differences in coping strategies. Younger Kenyans, particularly those under 35, are more likely to embrace digital platforms and gig work, while older respondents tend to rely on traditional community support systems. This generational divide reflects broader shifts in Kenya’s labor market, where formal employment opportunities remain scarce and technology-driven entrepreneurship is increasingly filling the gap.
The implications of these trends are profound. As more Kenyans turn to secondary jobs, the boundaries between formal and informal work blur, complicating efforts to regulate labor markets and ensure fair wages. The rise of gig work raises questions about job security, benefits, and worker protections, while the reliance on informal networks underscores the inadequacy of formal financial systems. Policymakers face the challenge of balancing innovation with regulation, ensuring that the hustle economy does not become a trap of perpetual insecurity.
International observers have noted similar trends across Africa, where economic pressures have driven millions into informal work. Kenya’s experience reflects a broader continental struggle to create inclusive growth that translates into tangible improvements in household welfare. The resilience of Kenyan families is undeniable, but resilience alone cannot substitute for structural reforms and effective governance.
As 2025 draws to a close, the Infotrak survey serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of economic strain. Behind the statistics are families rationing meals, parents juggling multiple jobs, and young people navigating uncertain futures. The hustle economy may keep households afloat, but it cannot replace the need for stable, well-paying jobs and robust social protections.
In the end, Kenyans are hustling not out of choice but out of necessity—and unless the economy delivers real relief, the nation risks becoming a society where survival eclipses prosperity.
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