NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya is making moves to secure better earnings for its TikTok creators, and the government isn’t staying on the sidelines.
On Monday, March 3, 2025, Information, Communications & The Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo met with a delegation from TikTok at the Ministry Headquarters to discuss enhancing collaboration between the platform and Kenyan content creators.
ICT CS William Kabogo meets a delegation from TikTok, led by their Director of Communication, at the Ministry Headquarters.
With Kenya reportedly contributing 54pc of global TikTok activity in 2023, the country has cemented its position as a digital powerhouse.
But here’s the catch: while TikTok continues to flourish in Kenya, its monetization model remains elusive for many local creators.
Kabogo Wants Fair Pay for Kenyan Creators
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kabogo emphasized the importance of ensuring that Kenyan creators earn competitively on TikTok, just like their counterparts in other regions.
Meeting with a Delegation from TikTok Today, I had the pleasure of meeting a delegation from TikTok, led by their Director of Communication, at the Ministry Headquarters. Kenya continues to be a global leader in TikTok usage, accounting for 54% in 2023. This platform has…
“This platform has created immense opportunities for Kenyan content creators to monetize their creativity and reach global audiences,” he stated.
“However, it is crucial that @MoICTKenya and TikTok continue exploring ways to enhance collaborations, ensuring that Kenyan creators earn competitively on the platform.”
Currently, TikTok only offers monetization options in South Africa across the continent.
This means that despite Kenya’s dominance in TikTok usage, most local creators are left without direct earning opportunities—unless they land brand partnerships or external sponsorships.
The Monetization Dilemma: What’s TikTok’s Stand?
In 2023, President William Ruto announced plans to meet TikTok’s global CEO, Shou Zi Chew, to discuss a content monetization policy tailored for Kenya. But so far, progress has been slow.
TikTok’s Head of Sales for Sub-Saharan Africa, Carl Jordan, previously clarified that the company does not yet have direct monetization plans for Kenya or the wider African region.
Instead, its focus remains on building communities and connecting creators with brands—a strategy that has drawn mixed reactions from the Kenyan creator community.
Interestingly, in 2024, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, rolled out a new monetization tool—but only in select markets. Kenyan creators, for now, remain in limbo.
What’s Next for Kenya’s Digital Economy?
The Kenyan government has made digital transformation and content monetization a priority, and Kabogo’s meeting with TikTok signals a push for fairer creator compensation.
But whether TikTok will expand its Creator Fund or monetization features to Kenya remains the big question.
For now, Kenyan TikTokers will have to keep riding the viral wave—while hoping the platform eventually opens up direct earning opportunities beyond South Africa.
