Kenya’s Bet on Gig Work: A 2022 Experiment with ChatGPT
In 2022, Kenya adopted a ten-year plan to integrate its graduates into online outsourcing, coinciding with the launch of ChatGPT. At its peak, approximately 40,000 people in Nairobi were involved in writing essays for international students, primarily through AI text manipulation.
The Rise and Fall of Essay Writing
Teresios Bundi, a university graduate from a farming background, recalls his early days in the industry. He completed over 2,500 essays during his twelve years in the business, earning up to $7 per three-hour assignment. Bundi’s success highlights the financial allure of this unconventional career path, which offered five times the income potential of public health work.
A National Policy on Outsourcing
The Kenyan government recognized the potential of online outsourcing as a pathway out of poverty and unemployment. In 2016, they began training university graduates for freelance platforms, solidifying their commitment to this strategy in the 2022 National Digital Masterplan. This plan emphasized gig work and outsourcing as means to economic growth and youth employment.
The Changing Landscape
However, the essay-writing industry has since collapsed due to advancements in AI technology. Transcription, once a stable source of income for Frida Mwangi, also faced disruption as software automated this task. These changes reflect the dual nature of technological progress—enabling innovation while rendering certain jobs obsolete.
"The work that remains is editing AI text so it passes as human." — A 2026 report on the state of online outsourcing in Kenya
The Ongoing Search for Opportunities
Despite the challenges, John Tanui, a principal secretary at the relevant ministry, remains optimistic about Kenya’s potential as an outsourcing hub. He believes it can unlock opportunities for youth, addressing unemployment and poverty rates that exceed 25% and 40%, respectively.