Economic lives of digital platform gig workers: Case of motorbike passenger and delivery drivers in Kenya

Executive Summary

Digital labor platforms have transformed employment in Kenya, providing a more formal alternative to the country’s predominantly informal job market. With increasing smartphone penetration and a strong mobile money infrastructure, digital platforms have emerged as major work sources, particularly for young people (ILO, 2021). These opportunities have become crucial in a labor market where formal jobs are scarce, and youth unemployment remains persistently high (Kenya Challenge Fund for Youth Employment, 2020). However, despite their potential, platform jobs may not always provide stable incomes or integrate workers into formal financial and social protection systems. This study examines the realities of driving gig work in Kenya, highlighting the economic opportunities, financial risks, and labor conditions that define the sector.

In this study, we examined gig workers working for one of the major ride-hailing platforms (referred to as [platform] to preserve anonymity) in Kenya to provide a comprehensive description of the economic lives of digital gig workers who drive two-wheeler (primarily motorcycle) vehicles. We focus on key research themes, including demographics, drivers’ reasons for joining and barriers to entry, work patterns, earnings, financial security, financial inclusion, and subjective platform experiences working on the platform.

We define two types of drivers:

1. Active drivers, who completed at least one delivery within three months between April and June 2024, and
2. Inactive drivers, who had not completed a ride in the past three months but were active within the three to nine months before the data extraction date.

By surveying current and past drivers, we explore the ongoing experiences of platform workers and document the career trajectories of those who have left platform work.

Demographics

Kenya’s platform drivers are predominantly young men (99%), with an average age of 32 years. We could only reach and interview three women and hence could not conduct a meaningful gender-based analysis. This pattern is consistent with global trends. Platform work in the transport and delivery sectors is heavily male-dominated, with female participation constrained by safety concerns, caregiving responsibilities, and social norms (Fairwork, 2022; Hunt et al., 2019). Educational attainment among Kenyan gig drivers is notably higher than that of the general population: 50% completed high school, and 20% hold a college degree, compared to 41% and 21% among urban Kenyans. This finding aligns with trends observed in other countries where gig workers tend to be more educated than average, which may reflect entry requirements (Brailovskaya, 2023; Zollman, 2023). Only 19% of the drivers were born in the area where they currently reside and work, indicating that the vast majority are internal migrants. The primary driver of migration is economic opportunities, with 45% relocating for general work; only 8% moved for [platform] work.

Entry into the platform work

Economic reasons are the primary motivator for platform entry, with 32% of drivers joining for better earnings and 32% seeking additional income to support their families. Entry into the platform was relatively seamless for 41% of drivers. However, about 20% faced challenges with required documentation, such as certificates of good conduct, often due to long verification processes and high costs of obtaining paperwork.

Platform work appears more accessible to those with initial assets but not entirely inaccessible to those without, as rental and financing options enable many to participate. Before joining the platform, 89% of drivers owned a smartphone. This ownership rate is significantly higher than the national average of 49% among men aged 15 to 49 (KDHS 2022). However, 40% of these drivers acquired their phones through rentals or financing. Similarly, 89% had access to an operating motorcycle, but 64% were renting or financing their motorcycles through loans rather than owning them outright. Bank account ownership among drivers was also high at 82%, though it is not a strict requirement for platform work, as Kenya’s widespread mobile money infrastructure allows most transactions to be completed via services like M-Pesa.

Financial strain was a recurring issue among drivers repaying loans or paying rent for their work assets. About 32% reported missing essential expenses multiple times, and 28% struggled to the extent that they frequently missed payments.