How long is your Kenya to do list right now?
How many jobs would a personal assistant in Nairobi clear off your list this month? First, the car insurance renewal. Then the parcel at your old flat.
Next, the fundi who keeps saying tomorrow. Finally, the birthday you nearly forgot.
Each one is small, but together they sit on your chest every evening.
Of course, living abroad does not stop life in Kenya. Bills still need paying in person, papers still need collecting and people still need visiting.
You could ask a cousin. But you have done that before and you know how it ends.
A personal assistant in Nairobi changes that. That is because you get one person who knows the city, answers on WhatsApp and does what you asked, on the day you asked.
OnGround Africa is your person on the ground in Kenya. So we become your hands and feet in the city, with proof at every step.
Why not hire someone full time?
A full time helper needs a salary every month, even when there is nothing to do. They also need managing from thousands of kilometres away.
A personal assistant in Nairobi on a task basis is different. Instead, you pay for jobs done, not for hours waiting by the phone.
When the list is long, we work through it. Meanwhile, when it is quiet, you pay nothing.
What does a personal assistant in Nairobi do for you?
Think of us as the friend in Nairobi who is always free and never forgets. So here is what clients abroad ask for most.
Running around
- Collecting parcels, keys, documents and repaired items
- Dropping off letters, forms and samples
- Buying things you need in Kenya and keeping the receipts
- Waiting in a queue so you do not have to fly home for it
Booking and organising
- Booking a hotel, a venue or a car for your visit home
- Finding a fundi, a cleaner or a mover and getting quotes
- Confirming appointments in person when a phone call is not enough
- Arranging a cake, a hamper or flowers for a family event
Checking and reporting
- Visiting your apartment between tenants
- Checking on a car parked at a relative’s house
- Looking at something before you buy it
- Visiting a parent and sending you an update
If you can describe it and it is legal, a personal assistant in Nairobi can usually do it. Otherwise, we say so straight away.
Shopping you can trust
Buying from abroad is risky when you cannot see the item. So we go to the shop, photograph the product, the label and the price, then wait for your yes.
For bigger buys like a fridge or a phone, we check the box is sealed and the warranty card is inside. Still, your personal assistant in Nairobi buys only what you approve.
A personal assistant in Nairobi for a busy week
Some clients send one big list instead of many small jobs. For example, ten tasks, one week, one person.
We plan the route so that tasks in the same part of town happen together. As a result, that saves time and saves you money.
Getting to know how you like things done
Every client has habits. For example, one wants receipts photographed flat on a table. Another wants a voice note instead of text.
So we learn those small things and stick to them. The longer you work with your personal assistant in Nairobi, the less you need to explain.
We keep a short note of your family contacts, preferred shops and usual addresses. However, you can ask us to delete it any time.
How does working with a personal assistant in Nairobi work?
It runs on WhatsApp, so you do not need an app, a login or a contract to start.
- Send your list. Text, voice notes or photos, in any order.
- Get a written quote. We price each task and show any item budget separately.
- Approve and pay. You pay only after you approve the quote.
- We get to work. You see updates as each task is done.
- You get proof. Photos, videos and receipts for every task.
- We close the list. A short summary of what was done and what is still open.
That last step matters, because a good personal assistant in Nairobi never leaves you guessing which jobs are finished.
Working across time zones
You might be in Toronto, Dubai or Melbourne. Still, your day and ours rarely line up.
So we send updates that suit your clock. Send the list before bed, then wake up to progress.
Urgent questions come to you straight away, while routine updates wait for your morning.
One thread, every record
Everything sits in one WhatsApp chat, for example photos, receipts, quotes and notes, in date order.
Need to find the plumber’s receipt from March? Then scroll up. Your personal assistant in Nairobi keeps the paper trail tidy for you.
What happens when a task goes wrong?
Nairobi has surprises. For example, an office closes early, a shop runs out of stock or a road is blocked.
When that happens, you hear from us straight away. Then we explain what went wrong and suggest a new plan.
However, we never quietly spend more to fix it. Any change in cost is approved by you first.
What does it cost?
Our personal assistant in Nairobi service is priced task by task, using our published prices in USD. You only pay for the jobs you approve.
| Task | Our fee |
|---|---|
| Errand in Nairobi | From $50 |
| Gift delivery in Nairobi | $60 plus the gift cost |
| Family check in visit | $60 |
| Airport pickup or drop at JKIA | $60 |
| Document pickup and courier abroad | $75 plus courier at cost |
| KRA PIN support | $80 |
| KRA nil return filing | $40 per year |
| Property inspection visit (Nairobi and nearby) | $120 |
Add ons
- Tasks outside Nairobi: travel quoted upfront
- Urgent same week service: adds 25 percent
Anything we buy or pay for on your behalf is a separate budget, so you see every receipt.
A written quote comes first. Then you pay only after you approve it.
We quote in USD and you can pay by card, PayPal, bank or M Pesa. We confirm payment options with your quote.
See the full list of our fees on the OnGround Africa pricing page.
Is it cheaper than flying home?
Almost always, because a return flight, time off work and a week of taxis add up fast.
A personal assistant in Nairobi handles the same jobs while you stay at work. So you keep your leave for the visits that really matter.
Saving on a long list
Several small tasks in one area can often share a trip. That is why we look for those chances when we quote.
That is one of the quiet benefits of a personal assistant in Nairobi who plans your week, not just your day.
Paying bills and fees in Nairobi from abroad
Many tasks on a Kenya to do list involve paying for something. For example, rates, permits, school fees or a repair.
However, a lot of this has moved online. Nairobi City County says it operates a no cash policy for revenue, with payments through its NairobiPay portal, bank accounts and the USSD code *647#.
That is good news for you. In fact, many county payments can now be made from your own phone, wherever you are.
Where we fit in
- Collecting the invoice or bill in person when it is not online
- Taking the printed permit or receipt to wherever it must be shown
- Checking that a payment you made has been recorded at the office
- Delivering stamped papers to you by courier
We never ask for your passwords or PINs. Instead, if something needs your login, we guide you on a call while you do it yourself.
Tax tasks
KRA says PIN registration on iTax is free of charge. Still, our KRA PIN support is $80 if you want help with the steps. KRA nil return filing is $40 per year.
For the full guide, see KRA PIN for foreigners. Your personal assistant in Nairobi can collect any papers that come out of it.
Can a personal assistant in Nairobi help with your visit home?
Yes, because a trip home goes much better when someone has done the groundwork.
Before you land
- Stocking your apartment or a relative’s fridge
- Booking a car, a driver or a short stay
- Getting quotes from fundis so repairs start the day you arrive
- Planning a family gathering, from venue to cake
When you land
First, we can meet you at the airport, help with bags and get you home. See our JKIA airport pickup service, at $60.
While you are here
Your personal assistant in Nairobi can queue for you, run to the shops or deal with a slow office. As a result, you spend your days with family, not in traffic.
After you leave
Then the loose ends get tied, for example collecting the repaired phone, posting the forgotten jacket and paying the last fundi.
A personal assistant in Nairobi makes your next trip easier too. That is because we remember how you like things done.
Weddings, funerals and family events
Big family events are hard to help with from abroad. For example, there are vendors to pay, items to buy and relatives to collect.
Your personal assistant in Nairobi can run the errands that sit on your share of the work. We collect, deliver and then report back so you can play your part from afar.
For a family member you want visited regularly, see our family check in visits. Each one is $60 in Nairobi.
Help for businesses: a personal assistant in Nairobi for teams abroad
Businesses abroad need someone local too, often for small jobs that do not justify a full time hire.
- Delivering contracts and collecting signed copies
- Collecting samples from Kenyan suppliers
- Visiting a partner’s office to confirm it exists
- Booking meeting rooms, hotels and cars for visiting staff
- Buying supplies for a local event or team
For a business, a personal assistant in Nairobi is a flexible extra pair of hands. So you use us when you need us and pay only for those tasks.
Need an address in the city?
Some foreign businesses need a local address for mail and meetings. Our virtual office in Nairobi page explains that option.
When a task becomes a project
Some jobs are bigger than an errand. For example, checking a supplier in depth, inspecting a property or setting up a company all need a proper plan.
So we will tell you when a task has outgrown the assistant role. Then we quote it as the right service, such as a property inspection in Kenya.
Reports your team can use
Business clients often need proof for their own records. So we send dated photos, receipts and a short written note for each task.
A personal assistant in Nairobi who documents everything saves your finance team a lot of questions later.
What will a personal assistant in Nairobi not do?
Clear limits protect you, your family and us, so here is what we will not do.
- We will not pay bribes or so called facilitation fees
- We will not handle large amounts of cash
- We will not sign anything on your behalf without proper legal authority
- We will not ask for or use your passwords
- We will not give legal, medical or financial advice
- We will not carry or buy anything illegal
When a task needs a lawyer, we bring in a licensed Kenyan advocate. Of course, you approve that and their fee first.
We are not a bank, a government agent or an immigration agent. A personal assistant in Nairobi helps with the legwork, not the legal decisions.
Honest about what we cannot do well
If a task needs a skill we do not have, we tell you, because we would rather point you to the right help than do a poor job.
That honesty is part of what makes a personal assistant in Nairobi worth having.
Handling money safely
Where a task needs money, we agree a budget first. You pay it with our fee, then we share every receipt afterwards.
If we spend less, the balance is still yours. It can go towards your next task with your personal assistant in Nairobi or come back to you.
Why choose OnGround Africa as your personal assistant in Nairobi?
OnGround Africa is run by Patrick Maina in Nairobi. Patrick also runs Growth Catalyst, with more than 870 projects delivered over 8 years.
That work earned 452 five star reviews from clients in more than 56 countries. Patrick has also produced film scenes in Kibera for an international artist and shipped certificates to the US.
A client from Ethiopia wrote, “Patrick does amazing groundwork for those who are remote from Kenya.” That is the heart of a personal assistant in Nairobi.
Our promise
- A written quote first
- You pay only after you approve the quote
- Photo and video proof on every job
- Updates on WhatsApp in your time zone
Your privacy
We see a lot of personal detail, for example addresses, family names and bills.
All of it stays between us, so we never share your details or your family’s details with anyone who does not need them for your task.
A personal assistant in Nairobi is only useful if you can trust them with the small things. That is why we treat your information the way we would want ours treated.
Real life lists we handle
Every list is different, but here are the kinds of lists a personal assistant in Nairobi might get in a normal week.
The new parent abroad
Buy and deliver a baby shower gift to a cousin in Kasarani. Then collect a birth certificate that is ready and post it to Manchester with tracking.
The landlord abroad
Visit the flat in Kilimani between tenants. Photograph every room and meter, then get two quotes for repainting.
The student abroad
Collect transcripts from a university office. Scan them, then send the originals by courier. Drop a thank you card at a lecturer’s office.
The small business abroad
Collect three fabric samples in Eastleigh. Pack and ship them, then book a car for a visiting manager next month.
The parent of a boarding school student
Buy the items on the school shopping list. Deliver them on visiting day, then send a photo of your child with the new shoes.
Schools set strict dates and rules for visits. So we check them with the school first, then plan the trip around them.
The adult child of an ageing parent
Pay a bill in person. Next, buy a new mattress and have it delivered. Finally, sit with Dad for an hour and report back.
A personal assistant in Nairobi can carry a lot of quiet worry off your shoulders. One message, many small kindnesses done.
Of course, these are typical requests, not stories about named clients. They show how a personal assistant in Nairobi turns a messy list into finished jobs.
The returning resident
Find three furnished apartments in Westlands to view online. Then book the movers and meet the moving truck and photograph every box as it comes off.
Moving home after years away is a big job. A personal assistant in Nairobi can do much of the legwork before you even board the plane.
Book your personal assistant in Nairobi
Send your list as it is, messy and all. We then reply with questions or a written quote.
- WhatsApp: +254 724 991 531
- Email: patrick@growthcatalyst.co.ke
Not sure where to start? Then send the one task that has bothered you longest, so we can clear that first.
Questions are free, so ask how a personal assistant in Nairobi would handle your list before you commit to anything.
Your personal assistant in Nairobi, from $50 a task, with proof you can see.
For more one off jobs, browse our errands in Kenya page.
Questions people ask
How much does a personal assistant in Nairobi cost?
We price task by task, so errands start from $50. Other tasks use our published prices, such as $60 for a JKIA pickup. You approve a written quote before we start.
Do I need a monthly contract?
No. You can book a single task or a long list. Regular clients often send a weekly list, but there is no lock in.
Will you need my passwords?
Never. If a task needs your login, we guide you on a call while you do it yourself. So we never ask for passwords or PINs.
Can you work outside Nairobi?
Yes. Tasks outside Nairobi carry travel costs, which we quote upfront. So you see the full price before you approve.
How fast can you start?
Most tasks can be scheduled within a few days. Urgent same week service adds 25 percent. Still, we tell you honestly if we cannot meet a deadline.
Can you help my business, not just me?
Yes. We handle deliveries, collections, bookings and visits for businesses abroad. However, larger jobs are quoted as the right service.
