November 2, 2025

How To Make Money With Affiliate Marketing In Kenya

You’re sitting in Super Metro in traffic. Bills are stacking up. Your 9-to-5 salary hits your M-Pesa, and by the end of the week, it’s gone.

You’ve heard people talk about making money online through affiliate marketing. But most guides complicate things. They talk theory while your rent is due.

Here’s the truth: affiliate marketing in Kenya works. People are earning real money—KSh 10,000, KSh 50,000, even KSh 200,000+ monthly by promoting products they don’t own.

This guide cuts through the noise. No fluff. No theory without action. Just what works in Kenya right now.

Your Setup Matters: Why Quality Laptops Make Affiliate Marketing Easier

Before I walk you through how to start affiliate marketing in Kenya, let’s address something nobody talks about.

Your tools determine your output.

If you’re serious about making money with affiliate marketing in Kenya, you need reliable equipment. A laptop that freezes every 20 minutes kills momentum. One that takes 10 minutes to load a webpage kills deals.

That’s where getting affordable laptops in Kenya becomes critical. Whether you’re creating content, managing social media campaigns, or tracking affiliate sales—your machine needs to handle it.

Check out quality laptops at competitive prices that won’t drain your startup budget. Because the difference between someone earning KSh 5,000 and KSh 50,000 monthly often comes down to consistency. And consistency requires equipment that doesn’t fail when you need it most.

Now let’s get into the system.

What Is Affiliate Marketing (And Why Kenya Is Perfect For It)

Affiliate marketing is simple.

You promote someone else’s product. Someone buys through your unique link. You earn commission.

No inventory. No customer service. No shipping logistics.

In Kenya, the model works because if you promote a KSh 5,000 smartphone with 10% commission, you earn KSh 500 per sale.

Scale that to 20 sales monthly, and you’re looking at KSh 10,000 extra.

Here’s why Kenya is positioned perfectly for this:

Growing Internet Access – Over 60% of Kenyans now have internet access, with smartphone penetration at 91% of the adult population. More people online means more potential buyers.
M-Pesa Integration – M-Pesa has over 30 million active monthly users in Kenya, making digital transactions effortless. You can receive affiliate commissions directly to your mobile money account. No complicated banking requirements.
E-Commerce Growth – Kenya’s e-commerce gross merchandise value in 2023 was Ksh 230 billion. Kenyans are buying online more than ever. That demand creates opportunity for smart affiliate marketers.

The infrastructure exists. The buyers are there. What’s missing is you taking action.

How Much Can You Actually Earn as an Affiliate in Kenya? (Real Numbers)

Let’s kill the fantasy.

You won’t make KSh 500,000 in your first month. Anyone promising that is lying.

But here’s what’s realistic:

Some affiliate programs pay $5–$100+ per referral, and combining that with content platforms can generate real passive income—even from a single article.

Beginner Level (Month 1-3) – Expect KSh 2,000 – KSh 10,000 monthly. You’re learning. Building audience. Testing what works.
Intermediate Level (Month 4-12) – Experienced marketers can make KSh 60,000 or more monthly. At this stage, you understand your audience. You know which products convert. Your content system is dialed in.
Advanced Level (12+ Months) – This is where serious money shows up. KSh 100,000 – KSh 300,000+ monthly becomes achievable. You’re running multiple campaigns. Multiple platforms. Multiple income streams.

The variable that determines your level isn’t luck. It’s consistency and strategy.

How To Start Affiliate Marketing In Kenya (Step-By-Step)

Most guides overcomplicate this. Here’s the exact process:

Step 1: Choose Your Niche (The Right Way)

Don’t pick “technology” or “fashion.” Too broad. Too competitive.

Your niche should be specific because affiliate marketing is competitive, and narrowing down helps you build a focused, engaged audience that you can monetize.

Instead of “fitness,” pick “home workouts for busy Nairobi professionals.” Instead of “electronics,” pick “affordable smartphones for university students.”

Here’s how to find your niche:

Write down topics you can talk about for 100 posts without getting bored. Not what sounds profitable—what you actually care about.

Check if people in that niche spend money. Fashion, tech, education, web hosting, travel—these convert. Random hobbies with no buying intent don’t.

Look at commission rates. Pick a niche with high commission rates because you’ll only need a few conversions to start making sustainable income.

Validate demand. Search “your niche + Kenya” on Google, Facebook, Instagram. If people are talking about it, there’s a market.

Step 2: Join The Right Affiliate Programs

Not all affiliate programs accept Kenyans. Not all that accept Kenyans pay well.

Here’s what works:

Local Programs (Easy Payments)

Jumia is among the largest e-commerce platforms in Kenya, connecting sellers and buyers in electronics, fashion, beauty, home appliances, and more.

Brandcart offers affiliate programs where you can earn commission on every order, with payouts on a monthly basis if you reach a threshold of Ksh 500.

These pay via M-Pesa. No PayPal issues. No international bank complications.

International Programs (Higher Commissions)

Some of the most used international networks include CJ and ShareASale, which offer access to programs from big brands.

Hostinger offers a 60% commission on sales, meaning you can earn substantial amounts for each new customer you bring in.

These pay higher but might require PayPal or bank accounts.

What To Look For:

Minimum payout under KSh 5,000 (lower is better). Clear commission structure (5%-60% depending on product). Cookie duration (30+ days means higher conversion chances). Payment options like bank transfer, PayPal, or mobile wallets such as M-Pesa.

Start with 1-2 programs. Master them. Then expand.

Step 3: Pick Your Platform (Where You’ll Promote)

You don’t need a website to start. Social media channels, YouTube, and even email marketing are all free accounts where you can make your first affiliate sale and earn money through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc. without spending any money.

Here’s what works in Kenya:

a). WhatsApp Business

Creating a WhatsApp Business account is an excellent way to get started with affiliate marketing in Kenya because it’s the most widely used messaging, image-sharing, and social commerce app in Kenya.

Build status updates. Share product reviews. Use broadcast lists for targeted promotions.

b). Instagram/TikTok

Perfect for visual products. Fashion, electronics, beauty products crush here. Create short videos showing products solving problems.

c). Facebook Groups

Join groups in your niche. Provide value first. Then recommend products naturally.

d). YouTube

Review videos work insanely well. “Best budget smartphones Kenya 2025” gets searches daily. Put affiliate links in description.

e). Start A Blog (Optional But Powerful)

Building a website provides you with a foundation for your affiliate marketing business and allows you to create SEO content to rank higher on Google and drive more traffic to your affiliate links.

A simple WordPress site costs under KSh 5,000 yearly. Ranks on Google. Works while you sleep.

Pick ONE platform. Master it. Then add others.

Step 4: Create Content That Converts

Here’s where most people fail.

They spam links. No context. No value. Just “Buy this” with a link.

That doesn’t work.

Here’s What Does:

Problem-Solution Format – “Struggling with slow internet? Here are 3 routers under KSh 8,000 that actually work.” Then recommend products with your affiliate link.
Comparison Content – “Tecno vs Samsung: Which phone gives you more value for KSh 25,000?” People searching comparisons are ready to buy.
Tutorial Style – “How I set up affordable home office in Nairobi for under KSh 30,000.” Show the products you used (affiliate links).
Personal Experience – “I tested 5 web hosting providers. Here’s what happened.” Authenticity converts better than sales pitches.

Be sure to add a simple disclaimer like: “This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you”.

Transparency builds trust. Trust builds sales.

Step 5: Drive Traffic To Your Links

Content without traffic equals zero sales.

Here’s how to get eyeballs:

Use SEO (For Blogs) Write articles targeting keywords like:

“Best in Kenya”
“[Product] review Kenya”
“Affordable Nairobi”

These phrases get searched. Rank for them, and you get free traffic.

a). Leverage Social Media

Drive traffic using social media shares, Facebook groups related to your niche, commenting on relevant posts, and collaborating with other creators.

Post consistently. Engage with comments. Join conversations in your niche.

b). Use Facebook Ads (When Ready)

Start small—KSh 500 budget. Target specific interests related to your product. Test what works. Scale winners.

c). Email Marketing

Collect emails from people interested in your niche. Send valuable tips weekly. Include affiliate recommendations naturally.

Traffic compounds. 30 visitors today. 300 next month. 3,000 in six months.

That’s how you scale.

Common Mistakes That Kill Affiliate Income

Ignoring compliance by not checking if a program follows Kenyan laws and pays out as promised can cause problems.

a). Promoting Everything

Jack of all trades, master of none. Pick your lane.

b). Choosing Products Based On Commission Only

Don’t just promote products for high commissions without regard for quality. Only recommend products you or your readers would actually buy based on value.

High commission on garbage products equals zero long-term sales.

c). Giving Up Too Early

Remember, results aren’t guaranteed and depend on your efforts. Success takes time.

Month one might bring KSh 500. That’s not failure. That’s data.

d). Not Tracking Performance

Use simple tracking tools to see which links work and which don’t.

If you don’t measure, you can’t improve.

e). Ignoring Your Audience

In affiliate marketing, your earnings largely depend on your audience. You want to build a focused and engaged audience that you can monetize.

Serve them. Solve their problems. Sales follow service.

The Affiliate Marketing Mindset That Actually Works

This isn’t get-rich-quick. It’s get-rich-eventually.

The people making KSh 200,000+ monthly didn’t start there.

They started with KSh 2,000. Then KSh 10,000. Then KSh 50,000.

Each level taught them something.

Focus On Volume First – Don’t obsess over the perfect post. Create 100 decent posts instead of 10 perfect ones.
Build Systems, Not Just Sales – Content creation schedule. Promotion strategy. Traffic generation process. Systems scale. Random effort doesn’t.
Treat It Like A Business – Track expenses. Measure ROI. Reinvest profits into growth.
Stay Consistent – After hitting a commissions milestone, don’t stop promoting. Consistency compounds affiliate earnings over time.

The money shows up when you don’t quit.

Tools And Resources For Kenyan Affiliate Marketers

Content Creation:

Canva (free graphics)
CapCut (free video editing)
Google Docs (free writing)

Traffic Generation:

Facebook Groups (free community access)
Pinterest (underrated in Kenya)
YouTube (free platform, massive reach)

Tracking:

Google Analytics (free traffic tracking)
Bitly (link tracking)
Spreadsheets (track sales manually at first)

Payment:

M-Pesa (easiest for local programs)
PayPal (necessary for international)
Equity Bank (good for international transfers)

Questions People Actually Ask About Affiliate Marketing In Kenya

Can I really start with zero money? Yes. All you need is a laptop and an internet connection to get started with affiliate marketing.

Use free social media platforms. Free content tools. Free affiliate programs.

How long before I see money? Realistically 2-4 weeks for first commission. But it might be small—KSh 500 to KSh 2,000. That’s normal.

Do I need a large following? No. 1,000 engaged followers beats 10,000 random ones. Micro-influencers often convert better.

What if nobody clicks my links? Your content isn’t solving problems. Your audience doesn’t trust you yet. Or you’re promoting wrong products to wrong people.

Fix the value, the rest follows.

Can this replace my job? Eventually, yes. But not in month one. Build it alongside your job. Quit when affiliate income exceeds salary for 6+ months straight.

The Path Forward

Affiliate marketing in Kenya isn’t magic. It’s math multiplied by consistency.

You promote products. Some people buy. You earn commission. You reinvest in better content. More people buy. You earn more.

The cycle compounds.

But only if you start.

Most people reading this won’t take action. They’ll bookmark it. Share it. Think about it.

But do nothing.

Don’t be most people.

Pick your niche today. Join one affiliate program this week. Create your first piece of content this month.

The Kenyans earning KSh 100,000+ monthly from affiliate marketing aren’t special. They’re not smarter than you. They’re not luckier than you.

They just started. And they didn’t quit when it got hard.

Your turn.