24th-Oct-2025 • Reddington Onyango • Remote Work
In the heart of Africa, where entrepreneurial spirit thrives, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly leveraging remote work to tap into an untapped pool of talent and drive growth. As Kenya continues to build a robust digital infrastructure, remote work offers SME owners a unique opportunity to expand their business operations beyond geographical boundaries.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), remote work has the potential to boost productivity by up to 35%. This means more output with fewer resources, a compelling proposition for SME owners.
For instance, consider M-Kopa, a Kenyan pay-as-you-go solar company. By adopting remote work practices, they were able to expand their sales force, enabling them to reach more customers across the country and boost their revenue.
But how can SMEs in Kenya successfully implement remote work?
Clearly define roles and expectations for each remote team member. This ensures everyone understands their responsibilities, deadlines, and performance metrics. Use collaboration tools like Asana or Trello to keep everyone on the same page.
Equip your remote team with the right tools for communication (Slack), project management (Asana or Trello), and file sharing (Google Drive or Dropbox). These tools facilitate seamless collaboration, even when team members are miles apart.
Trust is the cornerstone of any successful remote work setup. Empower your team by giving them autonomy and allowing them to make decisions without micro-managing them.
Regular check-ins help maintain open lines of communication, foster a sense of camaraderie, and address potential issues promptly. Consider using video conferencing tools like Zoom or Google Meet for these interactions.
Remote work can blur the lines between work and personal life if not managed properly. Encourage your team to maintain a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout and ensure long-term productivity.