Student Side Hustles
According to Urban Dictionary , side hustle is a “Sideline that brings in cash; something other than your main job. Maybe playing weekend gigs or life coaching…”
Some prominent people have been reported to have engaged in side hustles as students; our own president Uhuru Kenyatta is said to have organized parties and sold cheap alcohol for African students that could not go back home for holidays back in college in the UK.
The reason for side hustling among students range from needing to keep up with the fun and expensive college life that pocket money provided by parents cannot sustain, paying for own fees and simply doing it because it can be done.
We set out to find out some of the side hustles students in Nairobi engage in and quite frankly, its amazing. We can actually dare say that if such trends you are about to see go on,over the next 30 years will see a country full of wealthy folk.
Michael Muli (Kenyan Hippie)
Institution: University of Nairobi, 5th year
Studying: Environmental and Biosystems Engineering
“I sell jewelry and accessories that represent the 60s hippie culture
Thomas Ambia (23)Institution: Kenyatta University, 3rd year
Studying: Management (BTM) Tourism Management
Thomas also did ACCA from Strathmore Business School.
He is the General Manager at Kengeles and owns many other business including Vandermeer Garnet LTD that owns kenyanfashion.co.ke, VG Photography Studio and co owns The Moran Hub.
Derrick Gwehona (22)
Institution: St Pauls University, 3rd year
Studying: Public Relations
Derrick works with a religious org; RCCG, The Ambassadors, Kenya and earns between 18k and 25k. He also makes and sales handwashing soap making him a further 3k - 5k depending on orders made.
Wangeci Githaiga
Institution: Strathmore University
Studying: Law
Wangeci spends most of her free time volunteering at Nairobi Garage as part of Project Dream Team. There they help young entrepreneurs develop their businesses but her side hustle is beadmaking.
“I make around 5k a month. I could make more but I don’t have the time (because of school) and i also don’t know how to go about hiring someone to do the work for me…I sell to students mainly.
Institution: Zetech College
Studying: Web Design
Alfred is a dancer and a DJ playing both corporate and private events. “I make about 15k a month from that. I also work as a graphic designer making 30k a month and other design jobs that could bring anything between 10k - 15k bringing my monthly income to around 45k.”
“I know it sounds like a lot of money but i’m quite broke most of the time”, he adds.
Beulah Songok (21)
Institution: UoN 3rd year
Studying: Bsc. Statistics
Beulah is not only a farmer, she also preserves the environment through recylcling.
“I keep rabbits and grow seedlings on used milk packets then sell them. I make between 18k on a low month and 45k on the highest, from the sales of seedlings, rabbits and rabbit urine.
