Social Protection, Health, and Safety Gaps in Kenya’s Gig Economy: Implications for Development Policy

Background: The rapid growth of the gig economy has become a significant source of livelihoods in developing countries, especially in areas with high unemployment and informality. In Kenya, platform-mediated work has expanded without clearly adapted regulatory frameworks, raising concerns about workers’ exposure to economic, health, and occupational risks, as well as the effects on inclusive development. Objectives: This article investigates patterns of access to social protection, occupational health, and workplace safety among gig workers in Kenya and considers their consequences for development policy. It assesses whether current regulatory frameworks are sufficiently aligned with the realities of platform-based labor. Research Method: The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a survey of gig workers across selected sectors with qualitative interviews involving platform actors, policymakers, and civil society organizations. The quantitative component offers exploratory insights into working conditions and access to protection, while the qualitative data aid in interpreting the institutional and governance contexts that influence these patterns. Findings: Many gig workers report limited access to social protection mechanisms, including health insurance, pensions, paid leave, and income stability. Workers are often classified as independent contractors, and this arrangement is linked to the individualization of economic and occupational risks. Reported health and safety concerns include both physical hazards in work-on-demand sectors and psychosocial pressures associated with platform management systems. Policy Implications: The findings highlight the need to reassess how labor and social protection frameworks engage with platform-based work. Instead of viewing gig work as purely independent self-employment, policy discussions could benefit from considering hybrid approaches that recognize different levels of economic dependence, enhance access to social protections, and increase accountability in platform governance. These considerations remain relevant to ongoing debates on decent work and inclusive development in digitally mediated labor markets.