In recent reports, the popular online gig platform Remotasks has blocked Kenyan users from accessing the platform amid indications of its impending exit. The global AI company, based in Germany, is an employer of many Kenyan youths.
Kenyan users with active accounts attempted to access the Remotasks website but were met with error messages indicating that they had been blocked from accessing the site.
Screenshots shared by social media users who have been working on the platform show an email from Remotasks stating that the platform would no longer be accessible to Kenyans as of March 8th, 2024.
“We are reaching out with an important announcement regarding Remotasks operations in your location. We are discontinuing operations in your current location effective immediately,” the email read in part.
The email further informed users that they had been immediately off-boarded from their current projects. However, they were assured that they would receive payment for the work they had completed, with the funds being disbursed to accounts linked to their profiles.
“As part of this change, you have been off-boarded from your current project. You will receive payments associated with your work completed via the payment account set up on your profile.”
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The impending exit will leave thousands of unemployed Kenyans with limited incomes. Through remotasks, they engaged in a variety of tasks such as image annotation, data entry, copywriting, AI model training, and language translation services.
In January, President William Ruto commended the online platform after being shown by Brian Kipchumba, a student from Kaiboi National Polytechnic, how Remotasks works and the amount he had earned from it.
The young man told the president that he had been working on the site since December 2023 and had withdrawn Sh. 45,000 from the platform in the short time he worked there.
Following this, the government launched the “Finya Computer Itoe Dollar” initiative, aimed at providing free training programs for youths to earn an income.
