20 Untapped Business Ideas in Kenya

If you want to start your own business but don’t know what to do, this blog post will give you 20 untapped business ideas in Kenya.

Kenya is a country with untapped business potential. There are so many untapped opportunities in the market that you can turn into profitable businesses if you know what you’re doing!

List of Untapped business ideas in Kenya

Here is a list of untapped business ideas in Kenya:

1. E-Commerce business

According to SEACOM East Africa, e-commerce in Kenya is a 1.5 billion largely untapped dollar economy.

The industry remains untapped due to a lack of ICT and logistical infrastructure, customer reluctance (exacerbated by the rise of cybercrime), low Internet penetration, and inadequate digital literacy.

However, this is changing, and Kenya has one of the largest e-commerce markets on the African continent, with a growing population, increasing Internet access, and high mobile penetration.

Investing in an e-commerce business is a good idea and, moreso better if you have an offline business that you can take online easily by leveraging social media.

2. Mobile game development

The Mobile game industry is one with a lot of potential in Kenya. Mobile games are the most popular type of mobile application, and they’re more or less free to make, so it’s easy for anyone who knows how to code to get started with their apps.

The developers can monetize through ads, paid downloads, or micro-transactions within the app. Mobile gaming represents over 30% of all revenue from digital content globally, and African countries like Kenya have seen significant growth in this sector.

So there’s plenty of room for new entrants into the market here – while tech giants like Google (Niantic) and Facebook (Oculus) dominate virtual reality right now, don’t forget about smaller companies working on augmented reality (AR) solutions. Mobile game development is an excellent opportunity for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs to build on the African mobile gaming market.

3. Wearables business

The wearables market will grow from $16 billion to $36 billion by 2023, says a report released by research and consulting firm IDC – but the wearables that support mobile payments represent just one of many opportunities for those who are thinking about how they can integrate wearables into their businesses.

How wearables have been changing our lives has led to new industries forming around them — like wearables-enabled fitness devices or smartwatches with payment capabilities such as Apple Pay (née Passbook). And this trend isn’t going away anytime soon; according to forecasts from Gartner, “wearable spending” on products like bright clothes and jewelry could reach $310 billion by 2020.

So wearables are a perfect niche for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs who want to build on the African wearables market.

The wearables industry in Africa has been steadily growing. More people are receptive to these products that they can use for health tracking and other practical uses like connected bracelets that unlock doors or let you pay at stores without using your phone.

4. Subscription business

The subscription business is still untapped in Kenya. Although there is enormous potential s in the subscription business, such as clubs and services. Here are some of the subscription club ideas that we have for you to explore

• A subscription service where people could get products like clothes or shoes delivered every month to their doorstep.
• An online subscription service that offers information on various topics and educates people with different professions about how they should be doing specific tasks.
• Monthly subscription boxes from parents based on age groups, such as newborns, toddlers, preschoolers, etc., are handy because it saves time in determining what to buy each month.

There are many subscription businesses to choose from. These include wine, beer, sweets, natural products, makeup kits, cosmetics, and pet accessories, all of which the public may order monthly. Find a market niche that has not yet been explored and start your business with recurring payments.

The best thing about this type of company is that it covers many needs in one item.

5. Sale of vegetarian and vegan products

This is another untapped small business idea in Kenya in 2024. The Sale of vegetarian and vegan products increases due to an increased number of people interested in a healthy diet.

You will never go wrong with the food industry in Kenya since people will always eat.

You may sell any products that comply with the Sale of vegetarian and vegan products requirements.

6. Sale of natural and handmade cosmetics

There is a certain kind of awareness in Kenya and globally about caring for the environment. There is an opportunity to go into the natural and handmade cosmetics business.

The trend is growing, and several businesses are already in this niche. This remains an untapped business idea in Kenya but will soon be discovered.

7. Real estate business

The Real estate business in Kenya is still untapped, especially in the affordable housing segment. Many Kenyans are looking for housing but don’t have huge capital.

On the other end, realtors focussed too much on the upper and middle class, leaving a whole market segment untapped.

Office rental is also an excellent business to venture into.

8. IT Services in Kenya

Kenya is regarded as the Tech-hub of Africa and the Silicon Savanna.

Kenya has a high demand for IT service providers because Kenyans always look for new technology. This means that there will be more opportunities in the future in the IT sector for entrepreneurs.

Also, Most Kenyans use smartphones so that mobile app development would generate many more business opportunities.

It’s easier than ever to get started, thanks to the support from the Government. IT services in Kenya are cheaper and, consequently, more affordable to businesses.

9. Food delivery business

As I mentioned, you can never go wrong with the food industry.

Food delivery in Kenya is still relatively untouched, and you can establish a successful business if you have the right marketing strategies. Food delivery means different things to different people. Still, it mostly boils down to delivering food from one place to another without the customer contacting the seller.

A few popular Kenyan food delivery services are FoodPanda, UberEats, and Jumia Food Service, which offer both restaurants or individuals who cater for events to register on their platform and list the menus/foods they serve. These platforms connect customers looking for restaurant meals with nearby eateries able to provide them at reasonable prices depending on the order location and proximity of commodities (e.g., fresh produce).

10. Car rental service

Services such as Uber, bolt, and the like being around have killed the car hire business. You’re mistaken.

Car rental services offer a different experience for travelers. Car rental service is still an untapped business in Kenya, with more and more people using car hire services on their travels worldwide.

Here is an example of the idea that will make you one of the top providers in this industry.

You can rent out your cars to other drivers who need them when they aren’t driving themselves or want to avoid the high costs associated with owning a vehicle, such as insurance premiums, fuel charges, and parking fees at airports. A few companies allow customers to book cars online, while others require appointments set up by phone call or email.

11. Urban Logistics Business

Urban logistics is a business where you deliver goods and items within a metropolitan area, unlike traditional logistics, which primarily involves transporting materials from one place to another.

It is an excellent business requiring minimal investment, and you can quickly start using your vehicle with a few employees under you. This type of business has been increasing.

12. Solar Energy Business

Another great untapped business idea in Kenya is to invest in solar energy. This is a rapidly growing industry; you can take advantage of it by selling panels, batteries, and other related materials for installation.

This business may require some significant capital to start, but once you have the necessary equipment (which will be depreciating assets), your business is set for success.

Kenya and Kenyans can do very well in this industry with the proper legislative framework.

13. Cybersecurity & Data storage

With the advance of technology, more people are now using the internet and computer devices. This is seeing a rise in data storage needs which most organizations cannot meet.

Data is said to be the new oil. Just as petroleum companies have taken advantage of that fact by going into storage after being initially involved in exploration, you can also take advantage of the situation to make good money.

If you can provide safe data storage facilities to organizations, this is a great business idea. It requires very minimal startup capital (your security system will determine acceptable amounts) and can efficiently be run from anywhere in the world.

14. Transaction Services Business

Most people are now making payments for goods and services online. This has seen a rise in transaction services businesses. All you have to do is register with one of the big companies involved in this business (e.g., PayPal, Mpesa), and you can earn commissions for almost every transaction your clients make.

This type of business is perfect, especially for those looking to make extra money outside their regular jobs.

15. Esports & Gaming

Esports is a business idea increasing, and it’s here to stay. This industry covers professional video game competitions and has many followers worldwide.

You can quickly start this business anywhere in Kenya by creating your esports team and preparing for local tournaments. You can then win prize money through these competitions, which you will share with your team members.

16. Telemedicine

Another great business idea in Kenya is to venture into telemedicine. This industry allows people to acquire medical advice by consulting with doctors who are not necessarily in their physical locations.

Also, this service does not require a lot of investment and can efficiently be run practically anywhere in the country.

17. Virtual Education

Virtual education is an emerging business idea in Kenya. With the advancement of technology, more people now have access to high-speed internet and other computer devices they can use for learning.

This presents an excellent opportunity for you to earn either through selling educational materials and equipment (e.g., tablets) or by providing teachers who can give live lessons over the internet.

18. Online media business

Many people spend a lot of their free time online consuming content provided by online media outlets like YouTube, One Africa TV, et al. This presents an opportunity for you to build your platform and become popular by uploading exciting videos that will attract the attention of many netizens. You can then start earning from placing advertisements on your videos or charging subscribers a small fee for access to exclusive content.

19. Digital Marketing Services

Another great untapped business idea in Kenya is Digital Marketing Services.

More and more people are recently recently recently using the internet to market their businesses. In this industry, you will be helping others sell their companies via different digital marketing channels.

This is an industry that you can quickly start from home. But to succeed, you must know about the current digital marketing practices and trends, which might require attending some seminars or workshops.

20. Business consulting services

When starting a business, most people make mistakes that waste their time and resources. A business consultant can help such individuals identify key areas where they might fail and provide solutions to quickly quickly quickly correct the problem.

This service allows you to become your boss and determine your rates. You can also start this business from home. However, you will need to thoroughly thoroughly thoroughly understand current business practices and trends.