Genealogist
Researches family histories, lineages and ancestral connections using archival records, oral histories, DNA analysis and digital databases. Traces family trees, identifies ancestors, documents migrations and helps individuals understand their heritage. In Kenya, genealogists serve the African diaspora seeking roots on the continent, families tracing lineage across ethnic groups and colonial-era migrations, and legal cases requiring proof of inheritance or descent.
- AI exposure
- 31 of 100, low exposure
- Hiring trend
- Rising
- Hiring rate
- 20%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- Yes
- Freelance potential
- High
- Time to senior
- 6 years
A day in the role
Researches a family tree at the Kenya National Archives — searching colonial-era birth and marriage records for a client's grandparents. Conducts an oral history interview with a 90-year-old elder in Murang'a — documenting family names, clan affiliations and migration stories. Analyses a client's AncestryDNA results — identifying ethnic origins and DNA matches. Writes a family history report documenting five generations of a Kikuyu family. Consults with a law firm on an inheritance case requiring proof of descent.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 25,000-50,000
- Mid
- KES 55,000-110,000
- Senior
- KES 120,000-280,000
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 28% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside arts & humanities the mean is 50, across 84 careers.
Named task by task
Already automated
- AI-powered handwriting recognition for historical documents and parish records
- Automated family tree matching from DNA results and historical databases
- AI-assisted record linking across disparate archives and databases
- Generating family history narratives from genealogical data
Still human
- Researching archival records — Kenya National Archives (birth, marriage, death certificates, colonial records, immigration records), church records (baptism, marriage, burial registers), civil registration records
- Conducting oral history interviews — gathering family stories, names, relationships, migrations and traditions from elderly relatives and community elders
- Analysing DNA results — interpreting autosomal, Y-DNA and mtDNA test results (AncestryDNA, 23andMe, African Ancestry) to identify ethnic origins, migration patterns and living relatives
- Building family trees — documenting ancestors, relationships, dates and locations using genealogical software (FamilySearch, Ancestry, Gramps)
- Tracing diaspora roots — helping African Americans, Caribbean people and European-based Africans trace their ancestry to specific ethnic groups and regions in Kenya and East Africa
- Resolving genealogical problems — identifying 'brick walls' (missing ancestors, name changes, adoption, migration gaps) and developing research strategies to overcome them
- Writing family history reports — documenting research findings, sources, methodology and conclusions in professional reports for clients
- Providing legal genealogy support — inheritance cases, succession disputes, citizenship claims requiring proof of descent
Task counts
- Displacing
- AI automates handwriting recognition and record linking, but oral history, archival interpretation and client communication require human expertise.
- Augmenting
- AI handwriting recognition speeds up archival research. Automated family tree matching connects DNA results to historical records. AI narrative generation assists report writing.
- Creating
- AI-genealogy platforms (AI + DNA + digitised archives) create new roles for genealogists who can integrate technology with traditional research methods.
Sources
Behind the rating- Kenya National Archives
- African Ancestry DNA testing
- AncestryDNA African ethnicity estimates
- Diaspora roots-tracing market
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
8 courses- Diploma in Church MusicKsh 54,000a year
- Bachelor of Biblical StudiesKsh 57,600a year
- Bachelor of Biblical TheologyKsh 57,600a year
- Bachelor in Interactive Media TechnologyKsh 79,000a year
- Diploma in Journalism and Media StudiesKsh 96,000a year
- Diploma in Information ManagementKsh 100,330a year
- Diploma in Records Management and Information TechnologyKsh 100,330a year
- Diploma in Library and Information StudiesKsh 107,000a year
How people get in
BA History/Anthropology + genealogy training
4-6 yearsVery high cost
BA from UoN, KU or USIU plus genealogical research training (FamilySearch, Ancestry courses, ICAPGen certification)
Self-taught + archival experience + DNA genealogy
3-7 yearsLow cost
Learn through FamilySearch free courses, Ancestry Academy, hands-on archival research at KNA and DNA genealogy study — build a portfolio of family histories
Who hires
- Self-employed / Consultant
- Kenya National Archives
- Law Firms (Inheritance)
- Diaspora Organisations
- Academic Institutions
Common misconceptions
Genealogy is just filling in a family tree
Professional genealogy involves archival research, palaeography (reading historical handwriting), oral history methodology, DNA analysis, source citation, evidence evaluation and report writing. Tracing African lineages requires navigating incomplete colonial records, oral traditions and DNA-based approaches.
African genealogy is impossible because records don't exist
While written records are limited compared to Europe, Kenya has colonial-era archives, church records and rich oral history traditions. DNA testing (African Ancestry, AncestryDNA) provides new tools for tracing African ancestry. The combination of archival, oral and DNA evidence can reconstruct family histories.
DNA testing alone can tell you your ancestry
DNA testing provides ethnicity estimates and cousin matches, but it cannot identify specific ancestors, names or locations without supporting archival and oral history research. DNA is one tool in the genealogist's toolkit, not a complete solution.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Growth outlook
- Net demand change
- +15%
- Over
- 2026-2028
- Drivers
- African diaspora roots-tracing demand,DNA testing becoming more accessible and affordable,Kenya National Archives digitisation efforts,Legal genealogy for inheritance cases,Growing interest in personal heritage
- Headwinds
- Limited digitised records in Kenya,Incomplete colonial-era documentation,Oral history reliability challenges,Small local market (most clients are diaspora)
What to learn
- AI handwriting recognition for archival documents
- DNA genealogy interpretation (autosomal, Y-DNA, mtDNA)
- Digital archival research platforms
- African diaspora genealogy specialisation
- Genetic genealogy tools and databases
Related careers
Kenyan market notes
Genealogy is a niche but growing field in Kenya, driven by several factors. African diaspora roots-tracing: African Americans, Caribbean people and UK-based Africans increasingly seek to trace their ancestry to specific ethnic groups and regions in East Africa — using DNA testing (African Ancestry, AncestryDNA, 23andMe) combined with archival and oral history research. Kenya National Archives (KNA) in Nairobi holds colonial-era records (births, marriages, deaths, immigration, land records) dating to the early 1900s — essential for genealogical research. Church records (Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian) hold baptism, marriage and burial registers from mission stations across Kenya — some dating to the 1800s. Civil registration: birth and death certificates from the Registrar of Persons — increasingly digitised. DNA testing: African Ancestry (specialises in African maternal and paternal lineages), AncestryDNA and 23andMe (autosomal testing with ethnicity estimates and cousin matching). Legal genealogy: inheritance disputes, succession cases and citizenship claims sometimes require genealogical evidence — creating demand for professional genealogists. Key challenges: limited digitised records (most KNA records are paper-based), incomplete colonial-era records (many Africans were not registered), oral history reliability (names, dates and relationships may be imprecise), and the impact of the slave trade on diaspora genealogy (limited documentation of enslaved Africans' origins). Growing interest from the African diaspora creates the most viable market — diaspora clients can pay international rates (USD 500-5,000 for family history research projects). Salary: entry KES 30,000-55,000 (research assistant), mid KES 65,000-140,000 (established genealogist with diaspora clients), senior KES 160,000-360,000+ (specialist with legal genealogy expertise and international client base). Per-project fees: KES 20,000-100,000 for local family histories, USD 500-5,000 for diaspora roots-tracing projects.
Further reading
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