NAIROBI, Kenya – If you’re a Kenyan creator hoping to cash in on TikTok’s booming monetization program, you might want to sit down for this one.
The platform has confirmed that it has no immediate plans to pay African creators, despite rolling out monetization in other regions.
Carl Jordan, TikTok’s Head of Sales for Sub-Saharan Africa, made it clear that African users—including Kenya’s massive creative community—will have to wait indefinitely.
“Our focus now is creating communities and connecting creatives with brands. We don’t have a plan yet for paying African creatives, not at this stage,” Jordan stated.
TikTok confirms that it has no plans to monetize Kenyan creators, despite rolling out the program in other regions.
For many Kenyan influencers, the announcement is frustrating, especially given that TikTok has already monetized creators in the U.S. and Europe.
South Africa remains the only African country with access to TikTok’s monetization program, raising questions about how the platform determines eligibility.
Kenya is one of TikTok’s largest markets on the continent, with ByteDance data revealing that the platform had 10.6 million Kenyan users as of early 2024.
From viral challenges to informative content, Kenyan creators have transformed the platform into a digital hub for entertainment and business.
But without direct monetization options like TikTok’s Creativity Program or Live Gifts, many influencers are left with brand deals as their only revenue stream—a stark contrast to their American and European counterparts who have multiple ways to earn from the app.
So why is TikTok dragging its feet on monetization for Kenyan creators? The platform hasn’t given a clear answer, leaving content creators demanding transparency.
Some speculate that market size, advertiser interest, and economic factors play a role.
Others believe TikTok is prioritizing markets where it faces tougher competition from YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.
While TikTok remains tight-lipped, one thing is certain: Kenyan creators are bringing in millions of views—without getting paid for it.
And unless TikTok changes its strategy, many might start looking elsewhere for platforms that actually reward their content.
