Glossary term
Fundi
A fundi is a skilled tradesperson who works with their hands on a Kenyan construction site — a mason, carpenter, electrician, plumber or welder. Most site fundis are paid by the day for the work they complete.
On a Kenyan site, almost everyone doing the actual build is a fundi. The word is used with respect: it means someone who knows their trade. Contractors hire fundis by trade and by gang, and how they are paid decides whether they come back next week.
Updated October 17, 2026 · Glossary
What makes someone a fundi
Fundi is Swahili for a skilled craftsman or technician. On site the word covers the trades that put a building together, and an experienced fundi can often turn a hand to more than one.
- Masons and steel fixers
- Carpenters and joiners
- Roofers and tilers
- Electricians and plumbers
- Painters and welders
How fundis are paid in Kenya
Most construction fundis are casual labour: engaged for a day or a task and paid at the end of the day or week. Rates follow the gazetted minimum wage for the relevant trade and municipality, though an experienced fundi negotiates more. Cash envelopes on Friday were the norm; direct M-Pesa payments are now common.
Why fundis value digital payment
A fundi's pay should be traceable. When wages land by M-Pesa B2C, the worker keeps an SMS and receives a payslip showing gross pay and statutory deductions. There is no queue, no envelope that came up short, and no argument on Monday about what was owed.
Frequently asked questions
What trades count as fundi work?
Anything done by hand on a building site: masonry, carpentry, steel fixing, roofing, electrical, plumbing, tiling, painting and welding. The term also covers specialised trades such as terrazzo, gypsum and paving fundis.
Are fundis employees or casual workers?
Most site fundis are casual labour engaged by the day or task, though a fundi kept on site for months can look like an employee for tax and NCA records. Either way, wages, days worked and statutory deductions should be recorded.
How do fundis get paid on a FundiPay site?
Each fundi checks in by OTP inside the site geofence on their own phone, with no app to install. On payday, verified wages are paid straight to their M-Pesa number, with an SMS and a digital payslip for every payment.
Keep reading
Glossary
Casual Labour
Work engaged by the day or task rather than a permanent contract — the basis on which most Kenyan construction fundis are hired and paid.
Solutions
For Fundis & Workers
Check in with your phone, see your days worked, get paid straight to M-Pesa, and access emergency advances without a sacco.
Product
Digital Payslips & Receipts
An instant M-Pesa confirmation plus a digital payslip showing gross, deductions and net — the record that ends most pay disputes.