Meta has launched two new monetization features for Kenyan content creators. To qualify, creators need at least 5,000 followers and must be 18 or older.
Kenyan creators can now earn from their Meta accounts, previously known as Facebook. Popular comedian Butita expressed his excitement on social media, writing:
“Facebook Monetization Done. This makes me very happy. Dear Creators, it is time to unlock a new revenue stream. We delivered. 💯💯💯💯 Meta Monetization is Finally In Kenya.”
Earlier this year, President William Ruto announced that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, would allow Kenyan digital creators to monetize their content starting in June 2024.
President Ruto, who hosted the Facebook Management Team at State House in Nairobi along with top content creators, discussed monetization strategies. He secured a commitment from Facebook’s officials.
Nick Clegg, Facebook’s President of Global Affairs, confirmed that Kenyan creators can earn revenue through various channels on Facebook and Instagram. These include in-stream ads, Facebook Stories, Instagram subscriptions, and IG gifs.
This decision follows a year-long campaign by the Kenyan government, led by President Ruto, to enable creators to earn from their online content.
President Ruto praised the creators’ dedication and efforts. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in achieving monetization.
“In a few weeks, many of you will be eligible,” he stated. “Eligibility criteria will be available for all creators in Kenya. This is a significant step to ensure our content creators can monetize their talent and gain additional revenue. I’m truly grateful to Facebook for supporting us on this journey.”
President Ruto emphasized the alignment of this initiative with his administration’s bottom-up economic agenda. He mentioned receiving assurances that the monetization process would begin in June.
“I’ve gotten a commitment that by June, all our creators will have the opportunity to monetize their work and place ads. This aligns with our Bottom-up Economic Transformation agenda, ensuring everyone gets a chance,” he said.
President Ruto also noted the importance of using accessible platforms like M-Pesa for the monetization process, acknowledging that not everyone has access to credit cards.
“I am delighted that the monetization process will be facilitated through M-Pesa. This is significant as not everyone has access to credit cards. Using a platform as accessible as M-Pesa will benefit a broader range of individuals,” he added.