If you are job hunting in Nairobi and feeling stuck, there are several options you may not have explored yet.
Every day, hundreds of casual workers wake up early and head to specific spots around the city, hoping to land manual jobs that pay by the day.
From mjengo, loading goods to cleaning, machine operation to delivery jobs, these jobs may not need a CV, but they require timing and a little know-how about where to be and when.
Although many of these opportunities are not advertised online, many Kenyans have been doing them for years.
In this article, we highlight some well-known locations where you can find daily manual jobs, how much they usually pay, and what kind of tasks are involved.
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Baba Dogo Daily Manual Jobs
One of the most well-known and reliable spots in Nairobi is Chandaria Industries in Baba Dogo, which consistently takes in casual workers from Monday to Saturday.
Job seekers typically arrive by 7:00 AM at the company gate, where supervisors select individuals for the day’s tasks.
Additionally, the jobs involve deliveries of tissue and paper products. Menial job workers at Chandaria typically earn Ksh600 per day.
Still in Baba Dogo, there is Kenchic, a company that hires casuals on a daily basis.
Although the work can be intensive and repetitive, it provides a regular Ksh500 for those willing to show up.
Another popular location is the Kenya Glass Industry, located next to Kasarani Stadium near Safari Park and Lucky Summer.
The company offers a range of casual roles including delivery, machine washing, stepping, and loading or offloading.
Moreover, job seekers stand a better chance of securing work if they report to the gate on Wednesdays, Fridays, or Sundays.
Here, workers can earn as much as Ksh1,000 per day, which is among the better rates in the casual labour market.
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Other Nairobi Spots with daily Manual Jobs
On the other hand, those looking for slightly more structured short-term roles in Nairobi can find gigs at the Kenya Breweries in Ruaraka.
The company offered such opportunities mostly on Fridays and Mondays, where workers can be hired for roles such as machine operation, cleaning, loading, and general maintenance.
Additionally, workers have reported that they can receive a salary of Ksh10,000 per week. However, competition for these roles is stiff, and arriving at the factory early can increase selection chances.
Also, Dawanol, a pharmaceutical company located near the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), selects casual workers on Mondays.
Workers are picked directly from the gate and given various tasks, including packaging and general factory duties. The going rate is around Ksh500 per day.
For those in the Central Business District (CBD), the Country Bus Station near Muthurwa, Kamukunji, and Gikomba provides opportunities to earn quick cash by helping matatu operators recruit passengers.
These workers can earn around Ksh150 per matatu filled. The trick, however, is to be at the bus station during peak hours, early mornings from 4:00 AM to 9:00 AM or evenings from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, when commuter traffic is at its highest.
In Gikomba, Barma offers opportunities for casual work. The tasks here are usually physically demanding and include washing utensils, loading and offloading goods, and general cleaning.
Payment is often negotiable and depends on the nature of the work and the agreement struck between the worker and the employer.
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