Mainstreaming gig work in the labour laws in Kenya

A policy brief published by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. The gig economy is an economic model where people use digital platforms to find work. A 2021 report by the Federation of Kenya Employers notes that employment in the informal sector has been steadily increasing from 10% in 1974 to 83% in 2018. The inverse is true for employment in the formal sector where employment rates have reduced from 90% in 1974 to 18% in 2018. Furthermore, data from Statista indicates that in 2019, for instance, 768,000 new informal jobs were created in the country compared to 78,600 new formal jobs. Therefore, the present and future of work in Kenya is one where workers will be engaged in multiple gig-work undertakings with varied levels of formality and high levels of flexibility. This policy brief offers concrete policy recommendations towards building a solid foundation for gig economy, digital platforms and gig workers within Kenya's society.