Caption for the landscape image: Why Kenyan celebrities are not cashing in on 'attention monster' TikTok Monday, April 06, 2026 Scroll down to read the article TikTok is an attention monster, but most creators struggle to monetise this attention. Photo credit: Shutterstock By Sinda Matiko Correspondent Nation Media Group Article Related Kenya's biggest TikTok content creators struggled to monetise on the platform in 2025 despite creating massive attention. This is despite TikTok announcing in January that it had paid in excess of Sh47 million to Kenyans in 2025. Michael Bundi: How Tik Tok saved me from poverty In March, Michael Bundi' young family was almost evicted from their house. Why Kenya’s Gen Z are finding TikTok a good app for money making The youngsters are making money on the app through ‘gifts’ from different people from across the world, which they convert into US dollars and withdraw via M-Pesa. PREMIUM Why Kenyan content creators don’t get paid by TikTok "What are you doing in the country? Why are you okay operating here but not okay paying our creators?" . Recommended for you PREMIUM Sit up and listen, experience is talking PREMIUM Mwalimu Andrew: Sue me, the teachers will work over the holidays... PREMIUM Why do some men abandon the church and rely on their wives’ prayers? PREMIUM Paco Perez, the DJ who shaped city’s soul scene Login to join the discussion Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. In the headlines Elections News Counties Business Opinion Sports Life & Style Health Podcasts Photos Newsletters Puzzles Tanzania arrest leads to Sh3.6bn drug haul recovery in Kwale Two Tanzanians, Ugandan arrested in Sh3.6bn drug bust. PREMIUM Why MPs want a say in village elders’ selection MPs' push exposes battle for control of 106,000-strong grassroots army ahead of 2027 elections. PREMIUM What next for Matiang’i as Ongwae’s new party raises stakes in Gusii Ongwae says his party believes in neither the “one-term” nor the “two-term” narrative.
Michael Bundi: How Tik Tok saved me from poverty In March, Michael Bundi' young family was almost evicted from their house.
Why Kenya’s Gen Z are finding TikTok a good app for money making The youngsters are making money on the app through ‘gifts’ from different people from across the world, which they convert into US dollars and withdraw via M-Pesa.
PREMIUM Why Kenyan content creators don’t get paid by TikTok "What are you doing in the country? Why are you okay operating here but not okay paying our creators?"
Tanzania arrest leads to Sh3.6bn drug haul recovery in Kwale Two Tanzanians, Ugandan arrested in Sh3.6bn drug bust.
PREMIUM Why MPs want a say in village elders’ selection MPs' push exposes battle for control of 106,000-strong grassroots army ahead of 2027 elections.
PREMIUM What next for Matiang’i as Ongwae’s new party raises stakes in Gusii Ongwae says his party believes in neither the “one-term” nor the “two-term” narrative.
