Remote working in Kenya
Since March, I had been working full-time from home, and by June, I was starting to feel the walls closing in. To distract myself, I started looking for travel options, which led me to Charlie’s Travels. Initially, I was planning an off-the-beaten-track trip through
Uganda. Unfortunately, that couldn’t happen due to the border closures. Emiel from Charlie’s Travels then told me about the concept of remote working & traveling, and two weeks later, I was at Nairobi Airport!
What kind of work do you do?
I am a freelance strategic consultant & project manager. I had completed my projects in the Netherlands and wanted to build a webshop from Kenya, set up connections in the Netherlands for a new project in 2021, and meet local entrepreneurs through the BNI network, of which I am a member in the Netherlands. It went better and faster than expected! After 1.5 weeks, I had had 12 coffee ‘dates,’ completed 32 boda rides (motorbike taxis), visited local coffee farmers, and became a ‘member’ of the Marktplaats 2.0 Kenya WhatsApp group for Dutch expats.
Pleasantly surprised: quickly extended.
The plan was to stay for two weeks in Charlie's Travels'
villa, then travel. But after one week in Nairobi, I changed my mind: I stayed until mid-January. Why? This city is buzzing! It's much more modern than I expected, with American shopping malls, trendy eateries like in Amsterdam, and always-smiling Kenyans. Entrepreneurs (big and small) are ambitious, driven, and love discussing business opportunities with you. I also found myself in a really welcoming environment. Everything was perfectly organised by Charlie’s Travels, so the first two weeks were incredibly easy. It gave me a great feeling knowing there’s a team available 24/7 to assist with all kinds of questions.
"After one week in Nairobi, I changed my plans: I decided to stay longer, until mid-January. Why? This city is buzzing! It's much more modern than I had expected."
Corona in Kenya
So, what’s the situation with Covid now? Yes, Covid is also present in Kenya. As soon as you step outside, it's mandatory to wear a mask. Everywhere you enter, your temperature is checked (I’ve been reading 35.2°C for the past two weeks, so the accuracy is up for debate), and you're required to sanitise your hands. Additionally, there is a curfew from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM, and you're not allowed to be out on the streets during these hours. On the other hand, bars and restaurants are still open, so you can enjoy a nice meal or a drink.
Remote working in Kenya: Is it for you?
Does this sound exciting, but you're not sure if it's for you? If you have a laptop, passport, and toothbrush, you're good to go! Charlie's Travels takes care of the rest. If you're still a bit nervous, join the Remote Working group. In the near future, Charlie’s Travels will organise a fully planned remote-working trip, where you’ll work, live, and travel through Kenya as part of a group for a month. I'll definitely be joining the group for a few trips!
Tip: Don’t forget your e-reader. Here, people pay with digital money (Mpesa), and you can transfer money via IDEAL.
