How to Make Money Online In Kenya through Mpesa

Mobile phones are widely used for work and income in Kenya. So, if you are curious about digital jobs, you will find many mobile-based options that help you make money online in Kenya through M-Pesa.

Taking online survey platforms, doing freelance work, completing micro-tasks, or even chatting online are some of the proven ways to make money online in Kenya. These earning platforms (often accessible via phone) integrate with Safaricom’s M-Pesa for payouts.

So if you are interested in making money online, stick with this writing to see how to make money online in Kenya through M-Pesa

1How do I make money using my phone in Kenya?

1.11. Mobile Surveys & Micro-Tasks

1.22. Freelance Apps

1.33. Reward/Video Apps

1.44. Social Media & Content Creation

1.55. Mobile Trading/Gambling

1.66. Selling Goods/Services

2How to make money online in Kenya through M-Pesa

3Which app pays you for chatting in Kenya?

How do I make money using my phone in Kenya?

There are several mobile-friendly earning strategies in Kenya. Key options include:

1. Mobile Surveys & Micro-Tasks

Apps like GeoPoll and Takata send you short surveys or tasks via SMS/app. You complete them on your phone and earn rewards. GeoPoll’s website emphasizes you “earn and redeem airtime or cash” for simple surveys. Many Kenyans use these surveys in their spare time. The payouts (to M-Pesa) are small per survey (often KES 10–50), but they add up.

2. Freelance Apps

Use freelancing platforms on your phone. For example, the Upwork mobile app allows Kenyan freelancers to complete jobs (writing, design, etc.) and withdraw money to M-Pesa. Similarly, local platforms like ApexListings work on mobile browsers – you can bid on tasks and clients pay you via M-Pesa when done. All you need is internet access and the app/browser on your phone.

3. Reward/Video Apps

There are apps where you watch videos or complete offers. The “Watch Videos & Earn” app lets you earn points by watching clips; you can then cash out those points to your phone’s M-Pesa. Likewise, quiz or game apps (Cheza Spin, as noted) run entirely on mobile and pay out via M-Pesa.

While more indirect, you can monetize social channels using mobile. For instance, creating local content on Instagram or YouTube, then receiving sponsorship funds via mobile payments. Or selling digital art/photographs through apps like Foap – the Foap blog notes you can earn KES 1,500 per photo sold, and withdraw to M-Pesa.

5. Mobile Trading/Gambling

Some Kenyans use betting apps or SMS prediction markets (e.g., sports betting) to earn, but these are risky and not recommended for everyone. If doing so, choose licensed apps that pay via M-Pesa quickly.

6. Selling Goods/Services

Use your phone to sell items (like on Jiji) or services (like online tutoring via WhatsApp). While payment methods may vary (bank or M-Pesa), many Kenyan sellers prefer M-Pesa. In essence, any small business you run from your phone (digital or physical goods) can end up depositing money into your M-Pesa.

Explore the 15 Data Entry Online Jobs in Kenya | 2025 Update

How to make money online in Kenya through M-Pesa

To actually receive your online earnings via M-Pesa, follow these guidelines:

Link your M-Pesa to the platform: Wherever possible, specify your Safaricom number in account settings. Many apps allow you to input your M-Pesa wallet details so they can send payments there.
Meet minimum thresholds: Most apps require you to accumulate a certain amount (e.g. KES 100 or more) before cashing out. Plan to do enough tasks or surveys to hit that mark.
Withdraw through the app: In survey apps (GeoPoll), you often just tap a “Redeem” button to send airtime or cash. In cheques/gig apps (Upwork, Foap), you request withdrawal in settings and choose M-Pesa. In gaming apps (Cheza Spin), you use the in-app withdraw interface.

Here are some popular routes and how they use M-Pesa:

Surveys (GeoPoll, Takata): After completing surveys, you instantly get airtime (equivalent to cash) or a direct cash deposit into M-Pesa on your phone. This is perhaps the simplest “online to phone” cash route.
Freelancing (Upwork, ApexListings): You work on your phone (via browser/app), then receive an invoice. Upwork then sends your agreed USD/KSH to your M-Pesa account. You can then spend or transfer that money.
Task & Reward Apps (Swagbucks, video apps): These platforms accumulate a balance in their own currency (points or KES credit). When you hit the withdrawal threshold, you instruct the app to pay you out to M-Pesa.
Special Apps (Cheza Spin): As detailed earlier, Cheza’s model is built around M-Pesa. You deposit and withdraw through the app itself. When you withdraw, Cheza processes an immediate M-Pesa transfer.

The general formula is: do the online work on your phone → platform credits you in local currency → use the platform’s withdraw function to send that money to your Safaricom number. Because M-Pesa is so prevalent in Kenya, most local apps integrate it seamlessly. Once cash is in M-Pesa, you can use it like cash (transfer to others, pay bills, withdraw from an agent, etc.).

Check out the Best Online Loans in Kenya Via Mpesa

Which app pays you for chatting in Kenya?

One intriguing way to earn is get paid to chat. A leading example is Talkroom, an international app/website that lets you charge for your conversation time. On Talkroom, people (often lonely individuals or foreigners) pay to chat with “influencers” or casual conversationalists.

Each user on Talkroom sets a per-chat rate. For example, profiles show monthly availability and chat fees (e.g. “My chat fee is $50”). The site explains: “Talkroom is an app that lets you get paid to chat with strangers, old men, lonely men, and foreigners… earn money online just by responding.”

To use it, you

Download the Talkroom mobile app,
Set up a profile
Indicate how much you charge per chat session.
When someone buys a chat, you converse via text, voice or video on your phone and the app pays you.

As a Kenyan, you can receive these earnings in your account (Talkroom pays out in USD via PayPal or similar, but you could then transfer that to your bank or M-Pesa via a linked PayPal/M-Pesa service). While Talkroom isn’t a Kenyan startup, it clearly demonstrates that chatting can be monetized globally.

In Kenya, there aren’t any mainstream “chat-for-cash” apps apart from international ones like Talkroom. But most social platforms have “gifting” features (e.g. on live-stream apps), but these are harder to monetize. So for most Kenyan users, an app like Talkroom is the main example of “get paid to chat.”

Also see: 15 Best Online Shopping Sites in Kenya | 2025 Update

FAQs

How do I make money using my phone in Kenya?

social media management, customer service, online marketing campaigns, digital influencing, copywriting, content creation

Can I use ChatGPT to make money?

Yes, ChatGPT can be used to make money in various ways, primarily through content creation, digital product development, and freelancing.

How to make money with ChatGPT in Kenya?

content creation

Conclusion

Mobile money (M-Pesa) has revolutionized how Kenyans can earn online. By using a combination of mobile surveys, apps and freelancing platforms, you can indeed put money in your M-Pesa wallet from your phone. The key is to pick platforms accessible to Kenyan phone numbers, do the work on your phone, and then withdraw to M-Pesa.

With persistence and the right apps, you can steadily earn cash to your M-Pesa account using just a mobile phone.