How to Start a Blog in Kenya for Free

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Blogging in Kenya has grown significantly over the past decade, with many Kenyans turning to blogs for information, entertainment, and business opportunities. Whether you want to share personal experiences, promote a business, or make money online, starting a blog is a great way to establish your digital presence.

This guide covers:

1. Popular Blogging Niches in Kenya
2. How to Choose a Domain Name & Hosting
3. Step-by-Step Blog Setup
4. Creating Content for a Kenyan Audience
5. Monetization Strategies for Kenyan Bloggers

1. Popular Blogging Niches in Kenya

Kenyan bloggers cover a wide range of topics, but some niches perform exceptionally well due to local demand. Here are the most profitable blogging niches in Kenya:

A. Finance & Business

• Topics: Personal finance, side hustles, investments, mobile money (M-Pesa), SACCOs, and stock market tips.
• Example Blogs: Money254, Pesatalk
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing (banking products, investment courses), sponsored posts, ads.

B. Technology & Gadgets

• Topics: Smartphone reviews, laptop deals, software tutorials, cybersecurity, and tech news.
• Example Blogs: Techweez, Kenyan Geek
• Monetization: Affiliate sales, tech brand sponsorships.

C. Careers & Education

• Topics: University admissions, online courses, scholarships, CV writing, and job opportunities.
• Example Blogs: After School Africa, KenyanViral
• Monetization: Sponsored job ads, eBook sales, course promotions.

D. Health & Wellness

• Topics: Fitness tips, mental health, natural remedies, and medical advice.
• Example Blogs: Healthable, My Health Kenya
• Monetization: Sponsored health products, ads, eBooks.

E. Lifestyle & Entertainment

• Topics: Kenyan celebrities, relationships, fashion, and event coverage.
• Example Blogs: Ghafla, Potentash
• Monetization: Brand collaborations, event promotions, ads.

F. Agriculture & Farming

• Topics: Agribusiness, poultry farming, crop cultivation, and government subsidies.
• Example Blogs: Farmers Trend, Kilimo News
• Monetization: Farming product sales, sponsored content.

G. Travel & Tourism

• Topics: Kenyan travel destinations, hotel reviews, budget travel tips.
• Example Blogs: Travel Kenya, Kenyan Backpacker
• Monetization: Affiliate bookings (Travelstart, Jumia Travel), sponsored tours.

2. Choosing a Domain Name & Web Hosting in Kenya

A. Picking a Domain Name

• Use a .co.ke (for local appeal) or .com (global reach).
• Keep it short, brandable, and easy to remember (e.g., NairobiFashion.co.ke).
• Avoid numbers and hyphens.
• Where to Buy:
• Kenya Web Experts (Local provider)
• Truehost Cloud (Affordable for Kenyans)
• Namecheap/GoDaddy (International options) .

B. Selecting Web Hosting

Kenyan bloggers prefer affordable and reliable hosting. Recommended providers:

• Truehost Kenya (Best for beginners, local servers)
• HostPinnacle Kenya (Good uptime, customer support)
• Bluehost/SiteGround (International, but slightly more expensive). Check out a full review here.

Key Features to Look For:
✔ Free SSL certificate
✔ 99.9% uptime
✔ 24/7 customer support
✔ One-click WordPress install

Checkout our full review on factors to consider when choosing a host.

3. Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Blog in Kenya

Step 1: Register a Domain & Buy Hosting

• Visit a reliable webhost in kenya.
• Search for your domain name (e.g., KenyaFoodBlog.com).
• Choose a hosting plan (Shared hosting is cheapest for beginners).

Step 2: Install WordPress

• Most Kenyan hosts offer 1-click WordPress installation.
• Log in to your hosting dashboard (cPanel) and install WordPress.

Step 3: Choose a Blog Theme

• Free Themes: Astra, Kadence or GeneratePress.
• Premium Themes: Choose from themeforest.

Step 4: Install Essential Plugins

• SEO: Rank Math or Yoast SEO
• Security: Wordfence
• Speed Optimization: WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache
• Backup: UpdraftPlus

Step 5: Create Key Pages

• Homepage – Introduce your blog.
• About Page – Tell your story.
• Contact Page – Add an email or WhatsApp button.
• Blog Page – Start publishing articles.

4. Creating Content for a Kenyan Audience

A. Write Engaging, Localized Content

• Use Swahili or Sheng where relevant (e.g., “Best Side Hustles za 2024”).
• Cover trending topics (e.g., “How to Make Money with M-Pesa”).
• Solve problems (e.g., “Cheapest Universities in Kenya”).

B. SEO Tips for Kenyan Bloggers

• Use Google Keyword Planner to find low-competition keywords.
• Optimize for mobile users (over 80% of Kenyans browse via phone).
• Get backlinks from local Kenyan websites.

C. Promote Your Blog

• Facebook & WhatsApp Groups – Share posts in Kenyan forums.
• Twitter & LinkedIn – Engage with professionals.
• Pinterest – Great for lifestyle & fashion blogs.
• Email Marketing – Collect emails via Mailchimp or ConvertKit.

5. How to Monetize a Blog in Kenya

A. Google AdSense

• Display ads on your blog (requires 30+ posts & decent traffic).
• Payment: Via bank transfer.

B. Affiliate Marketing

• Promote affiliate products.
• Earn commissions per sale.

C. Sponsored Posts

• Charge brands KSh 5,000 – KSh 50,000 per post (depending on traffic).

D. Sell Digital Products

• eBooks (e.g., “How to Start a Business in Kenya”)
• Online courses (e.g., “Freelancing for Beginners”)

E. Freelance Writing

• Use your blog as a portfolio to land paid writing gigs.

How to Start a Blog in Kenya for Free

Once you’ve chosen your niche and domin name follow the following steps to launch your blog.

Step 1: Visit Fasthosts.co.uk

Step 2: Choose the web hosting grow plan or wordpress hosting business plan (the better option)

Each plan has an introductory offer of only £0.49 (86 KES) per month for the first six months, but on the 7th month you start paying the regular price which is £8 per month for the Grow web hosting or £11 a month for the Business plan of WordPress hosting . With this offer, you’ll only pay £0.49 to launch your blog which is almost free.

Step 3: Claim your free domain

And here is the greater news: Each plan allows you to get 2 free domains. You won’t pay anything once you’ve purchased the hosting plan at only £0.49. While setting up your hosting plan, you’ll be prompted to choose your domains which will be registered by Fasthosts on your behalf for a period of one year.

What to note about how to start a blog free offer in conjunction with Fasthosts:

The good thing fasthosts does not limit you- you can still host your domain on an alternative host if you wish, but keep you contract active by paying the monthly hosting fee of £0.49. If you stop paying the monthly fee, you’ll lose access to the domain. If by the 6th month you wish to shift to a new host and cancel the contract, you’ll need to purchase the domain and use it at your preferred host and this will cost you only £12 for domain purchase.

As a new blog owner, if you follow this guide to the latter, by the 6th month, your blog can surely cater for the hosting fee for itself once you’ve monetized it appropriately. By the six month, your blog should be earning you a minimum of $10 a month.

This option works for that person who is on a budget with no funds to buy a domain and hosting. But plan yourself so that by the 7th month, you’be in a position to pay the regular Fasthosts hosting fee of your hosting plan. But if you feel the regular hosting cost from the 7th month is high and you can’t afford it, buy the domain and host it at a cheaper host and remember to do it within the first six months.

With only 86 KES, you’ll be ready to launch your blog which is almost free putting in mind you get hosting plus 2 free domains.

There is no where on the web where you’ll get a free domain with a monthly hosting plan. Most hosts who offer a free domain allow you to redeem that offer only when you purchase a yearly plan unlike fasthosts, and most basic yearly hosting plans average $35.

If you’d like to use this option, and you get stuck, contact me at hello@naigem.com and I will set it up for you for free.

6. Final Tips for Kenyan Bloggers

✅ Be Consistent – Post at least twice a week.
✅ Engage with Readers – Reply to comments & social media messages.
✅ Track Performance – Use Google Analytics to monitor traffic.
✅ Network with Other Bloggers – Join Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE).

Conclusion

Starting a blog in Kenya is easier than ever, with affordable hosting, growing internet access, and multiple monetization options. Whether you choose finance, tech, or lifestyle blogging, consistency and quality content will help you succeed.

Ready to start? Pick a niche, register your domain, and launch your Kenyan blog today! 🚀

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By following this guide, you’ll build a profitable Kenyan blog with a loyal audience! 💡