Peter Ndumia, Branch Manager at Co-op Bank's Ridgeways Mall, recently spoke at the Co-op Bank Youth Forum, hosted by Violetta Ngina on October 2. He shared tips on how young people can start earning from their skills through freelancing, tutoring, and campus-based hustles. Ndumia's advice was straightforward: do not wait for the perfect job before testing what your skills can do. His argument was that young people should start with what people already ask them to do.
Ndumia encouraged young people to identify their talents, hobbies, school knowledge, work experience, and the things friends repeatedly ask them to help with. He suggested that the clue to turning skills into income can be something that comes naturally to you and that you genuinely enjoy doing. This could be mathematics, writing, editing, photography, graphic design, coding, music, or another practical ability. Knowing something is not enough; the next step is turning it into a clearly defined service that someone can actually buy.
A person who is good at mathematics, for example, can move from simply saying they understand the subject to offering one-on-one tutoring to students. The shift is from having a skill to selling a solution. Ndumia advised participants to document their work and build a portfolio showing potential clients what they can actually deliver. This portfolio does not have to begin with big corporate clients; sample projects and work done for friends, family, classmates, or small businesses can provide proof of capability.
For freelancers and young entrepreneurs, one of the cheapest ways to start building visibility is through the networks they already have. Social platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook can then become part of the marketing process. The idea is simple: let people see what you do. This is particularly useful for someone looking for the first client, which is often the hardest one to secure.
Ndumia also challenged the assumption that a freelancer needs a global platform or an impressive corporate network before starting. Friends, relatives, classmates, colleagues, and nearby businesses can provide the first market. A young designer can approach a small business that needs better social media graphics. A student strong in a particular subject can offer tutoring. Someone good at writing can start with editing, article writing, or social media content.
Kenya's digital economy is creating more routes into income beyond conventional employment, with the World Economic Forum estimating that about 1.9 million Kenyans were engaged in digital jobs, including roughly 1.2 million gig workers, by 2025. However, whether the opportunity is online or around campus, the principle remains the same: find a real need, offer something useful, and build a reputation for delivering it.
A degree can open a door, but while waiting for that door to open, a useful skill can create another one. This was the practical takeaway from the Co-op Bank Youth Forum. Ndumia's advice is particularly relevant for young Kenyans who are struggling to find employment after graduating from campus. By turning their skills into income, they can create new opportunities for themselves and build a more stable financial future.
Key points
- Peter Ndumia advises young people to identify their talents and turn them into income-generating activities.
- Young entrepreneurs can start building visibility through social media platforms and their existing networks.
- Kenya's digital economy is creating new opportunities for income beyond conventional employment.
