December Hustles in Kenya: Smart Ways to Make Extra Cash This Krisi 💰🇰🇪

Written by Simon Mwangi

This is the one season when matatus blast carols, estates set up lights, and everyone starts to plan that long-awaited trip “home.”

It’s the month where spending peaks, and if you play it right, your pockets can too💸🤑.

This is the time to hustle smart. Whether you’re in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, or shags, there’s money moving and people are willing to spend.

And the good thing? You don’t need big capital, just energy, creativity, and your mtaa network.

Here’s your MESH-approved list of profitable hustles in Kenya this December that actually make sense.

Here are small business ideas in Kenya this festive season. Each idea is low-cost, practical, and grounded in real Kenyan life.

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Kuwrap gifts ni zile vitu watu huwa wanasahau until the last minute.

Actually, wengi hufikiria about wrapping gifts saa ile they’re leaving the supermarket ama wakitoka Christmas church service.

Idea: Unaweza set up a small wrapping booth nje ya mall, supermarket, ama nje ya church after services.

The wrapping paper you offer must be stylish, make sure to use attractive ribbons, and gift tags.

Throw in local flavor with vernacular, Swahili, or Sheng messages kama “Uko Top Sana!” or “Nawe Ubarikiwe!”

Startup cost: 2–3K (paper, ribbons, tags).

💲Earnings: 100–200 bob per gift. Wrap 20+ per day na unaweza make 2–4k per day.

Bonus: Unaweza pia partner na small gift shops ama kiosks. Wakipata customers, you handle the wrapping hustle.

Kila church, estate kadhaa, na pia some families want their Krisi to sparkle, lights, ornaments, tinsel, or balloons for parties.

Idea: Unaweza buy affordable decorations in bulk from Kamukunji ama any market near you, then resell them.

Face paint or glitter sprays for kids’ events ni idea poa sana, especially around
Christmas Eve and New Year’s.

Startup cost: Around 5K for bulk stock.

💲Earnings: Sell small items (balloons, lights) at a 30–50% margin. Unaweza expect higher demand from churches ama event planners.

Bonus: Offer set-up services, unaweza lipisha 1–3K to decorate homes na church halls.

You can be sure that outdoor church services, concerts, na family gatherings huattract many people, who carry phones that will eventually drain their phone batteries.

The opportunity here is that power sockets are rare.

Idea: Tengeneza a portable charging station yenye inatumia solar panels ama large power banks. Charge watu a small fee to juice up their phones.

Startup cost: 5–10K for solar kits and cables.

💲Earnings: 20–50 per phone x 50 phones = up to 2,500 per event.

Bonus: Bundle it with Wi-Fi access, unaweza buy a Safaricom router, sell 50-bob internet tokens.

People always look for gifts they can take to their family and friends back in ushago, especially during Christmas.

Kama unaishi Nairobi or any other big city, unajua for sure, people will have to buy some items.

Since rural homes need reliable light, solar lights are a great business opportunity for you, and unaweza cash in.

By the way hii story ya solar inaweza kua one of the best side hustles in Kenya 2025 and beyond. Just ask Micah about his solar business in Eldoret.

Idea: Sell solar torches, home lighting kits, na chargers, especially travelers wale wanaenda shags.

Hii ni both a smart business na unacreate impact: helping families save money na kureduce black tax.

Startup cost: 10–15K (bulk buy kutoka kwa wholesalers in Eastleigh ama online).

💲Earnings: Torches at 300–500 bob profit margin; larger kits unaweza make more.

Bonus: Unaweza Offer small discounts for referrals na family bundles.

One thing unaweza kua sure of on Christmas Eve ni ati kutakua na serious traffic jams.

The roads get too packed, especially from Nairobi headed to places like Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, and Mombasa.

And somehow lazima kukue na a blazing sun outside, meaning people get thirsty fast.

Idea: Unaweza blend local juices (mango, pineapple, tamarind), freeze in bottles, and sell as “Krisi Coolers.”

If you get an icebox utakua mbele sana. Use roadside kiosks, stages, or a boda, if you go in search of the traffic jams.

Startup cost: 3–5K for blender + ingredients.

💲Earnings: 50 bob per 500ml bottle; 100 bottles = 5K per sales day. (If you get some serious traffic, you can easily make 2 to 3 times this amount)

Bonus: Partner with matatu or boda drivers for bulk delivery, they sell, mnagawanya profits.

Every December, Kenyans head home with vitu za shags. It’s not only a tradition, it is impolite kuenda home mkono mtupu.

As people crack their heads trying to remember ni nini walipeleka last year ndivo wasirudi na the same gifts, this presents an opportunity for you.

Idea: Sell affordable, practical items people love gifting back home. Ideaz kali kali ni kama:

● Solar lamps and chargers (kwenyu sio ushago kama hakuna torch).

● Warm blankets and jikos.

● Kitchenware and clothing bundles zile zimetengenezwa for gifting.

Startup cost: Around10K for starter stock.

💲Earnings: 30–40% profit margins depending na kile utadecide kuuza.

Bonus: Work with stage hawkers ama delivery riders. Wanaweza kusaidia kuuza, na wewe uwaachie a small cut.

Right before the Christmas week and New Years', November and early December are a key wedding and event season.

Watu hununua nguo mpya for these events, and so they dress up and want to capture memories.

Ata kama watu wako na cameras that can make calls (camera phones 😊), there is always a place for mtu wa picha.

Idea: Use your phone + ring light + tripod to take quick photos kwa church events, parks, na estate parties.

Ukishapiga unawatumia instantly through WhatsApp.

Startup cost: 3–7K for ring light/tripod setup.

💲Earnings: 150–300 bob per photo.

Bonus: Offer festive filters or watermarks, make it “Krisi Photo 2025” style!

As we had mentioned apo juu, December ni travel season, and this means heavy packing.

Families need reliable bags, sacks, and boxes. Ukicheza poa apa, you can make some good money.

Idea: Sell affordable duffel bags, travel sacks, or storage containers for road trips. Unaweza pia rent out strong boxes kwa wale wanamove large items upcountry.

Startup cost: 5–10K.

💲Earnings: 25–40% margins per item.

Bonus: Add a digital twist, unaweza advertize on local Facebook groups ama on your WhatsApp status.

✅ Start Early. By mid-December, most people huwa washaanza kuspend.

✅ Market Where People Gather. Tafuta clients kwa churches, supermarkets, estates, and matatu stages.

✅ Stay Cashless. Use M-PESA till numbers kupokea payments.

✅ Bundle Up. Shikanisha products kadhaa (e.g., gift + wrapping + delivery).

✅ Think Long-Term. A Krisi hustle can easlily become a 2025 side business.

December doesn’t have to drain your pockets, fikiria outside the box ndivo hii Krisi ikue different, let it refill your pockets.

You don’t need huge capital, just hustle, consistency, and creativity

Whether it’s solar torches, juice packs, or travel essentials, hizi ni some of the best business ideas in Kenya with low capital, waiting for you to get involved.

Start small, grow steady, and remember, MESH is all about turning small steps into big wins.

This Krisi, don’t just celebrate. Cash in.