The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy of Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering digital content creators as part of its strategy to accelerate the country’s digital economy growth.
Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui emphasized that the government is prioritizing the Digital Super Highway and the Creative Economy as key drivers for digital transformation across multiple sectors.
Enhancing Digital Infrastructure for Creators
To strengthen Kenya’s digital landscape, the government is implementing several initiatives, including:
- Nationwide fibre optic rollout for faster internet access.
- Establishment of digital hubs to support creators and entrepreneurs.
- Public Wi-Fi hotspots for increased connectivity.
- Updated ICT policies to enable innovation and protect creators.
These developments aim to provide creators with the digital infrastructure needed to thrive in a fast-growing online economy.
Public-Private Partnerships Boost Monetization
During a meeting with over 35 digital creators at the Ministry headquarters, Eng. Tanui noted the importance of collaborations with private sector players such as Meta and Google. These partnerships are helping creators monetize their content and reach wider audiences.
Key challenges raised by creators included:
- High taxation on digital earnings.
- Account hacking and pseudo accounts.
- Social media deactivations.
- Demonetization issues on major platforms.
Responding to these concerns, Mercy Ndegwa, Meta’s Public Policy Director for East and Horn of Africa, and Sarah Muyonga, Meta’s Public Policy Manager, assured creators that Meta is working with the Communications Authority to resolve these issues. They also announced training programmes in partnership with the Ministry.
New Opportunities for Content Monetization
The Ministry also highlighted major initiatives to support creators, including:
- The Open University of Kenya.
- The Digital Media City.
- The Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kenya-AIST) at Konza Smart City.
In addition, Meta launched two new monetization features on August 6, 2024:
- Instream Ads on Facebook.
- Facebook Ads on Reels.
These tools enable content creators to earn revenue from original videos and community engagement, significantly boosting opportunities in Kenya’s creative economy.
Conclusion
With a strong focus on digital infrastructure, training, and partnerships, Kenya is positioning itself as a regional hub for digital content creation. By addressing challenges and unlocking monetization opportunities, the government and private sector are empowering creators to thrive in the digital economy.
