On October 1, 2025, TikTok hosted the #LevelUpAfrica Creator Education Day in Kenya in partnership with the government.
The event, held at Glee Hotel in Kiambu County, brought together over 150 participants, including content creators, government representatives, industry leaders, and media.
The programme focused on training, mentorship, and strategies to help Kenyan creators strengthen their presence and access monetisation opportunities.
The #LevelUpAfrica programme is TikTok’s initiative to empower creators across SubSaharan Africa.
The programme provides skills development, education, and economic opportunities. By the end of 2025, TikTok aims to support 3,000 creators through this initiative.
The programme includes training sessions, online masterclasses, in-person events, and mentorship opportunities designed to help creators monetise their work and expand their influence.
Several commitments were made during the Kenyan edition of Creator Education Day:
TikTok reiterated its goal of supporting 3,000 African creators through training and mentorship.
Partnerships with Aleph Holdings and Wowzi were highlighted. Aleph is managing sales and support operations locally, while Wowzi is working as a creator management partner to connect influencers with brands and monetisation opportunities.
Kenyan government officials present at the event emphasised the alignment of the programme with national policy frameworks such as the Creative Economy Support Bill 2024.
The event featured participation from government officials, including representatives from the Office of Presidential Special Projects and the Creative Economy. They addressed the need for policy adjustments to improve the creator economy. Specific proposals discussed included:
Lowering TikTok’s monetisation thresholds to allow more small scale creators to benefit.
Expanding direct payment options such as integration with local mobile money platforms like M-Pesa.
Increasing visibility for content aligned with national development priorities such as health, jobs, and housing.
The Creator Education Day featured a series of sessions designed to equip creators with practical knowledge:
A Storytelling Masterclass was delivered by Emmy awardwinning writer Damaris Irungu Ochieng’, focusing on narrative techniques and identity in content creation.
Panel discussions featured established Kenyan creators such as Roy Kanyi, Grace Odawa, Mercy Masai, and Rukia Bulle. They shared experiences on building audiences, brand partnerships, and sustaining careers on the platform.
Sessions on business strategy addressed contracts, rights protection, negotiation, and how to align with brands.
Discussions also addressed issues such as sustainability of careers in content creation and the importance of mental health support.
While the programme aims to strengthen the ecosystem, several challenges for creators were acknowledged:
Many creators struggle to meet the existing monetisation thresholds, limiting revenue opportunities for smaller accounts.
Access to production tools and mentorship remains uneven, particularly for creators outside major urban areas.
Payment systems present obstacles, with delays and currency exchange issues. Calls were made for simpler, locally integrated solutions.
The #LevelUpAfrica initiative in Kenya reflects TikTok’s larger strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
By combining training, partnerships, and government collaboration, the programme aims to support content creators as contributors to the digital economy.
The Kenyan government, through policies such as the Creative Economy Support Bill, is signalling increased recognition of the sector’s economic and cultural importance.
Through collaboration between TikTok, local partners, and the government, Kenyan creators are being positioned to access new opportunities in the global digital content market.