President William Ruto has directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to prioritize online platforms for advertising as part of efforts to accelerate Kenya’s digital economy.
Speaking during the State Concert of the 97th Kenya Music Festival in Nyeri on Saturday, the President said the shift towards digital advertising will not only enhance visibility for government content but also increase revenue streams for Kenyan creators.
“The more we advertise online, the higher our content is weighted, and the more our creatives will earn. We must support our digital economy,” Ruto said.
He revealed that when he took office in August 2022, Kenya was not among the African countries whose creators were monetized on Facebook. This changed after what he described as “determined negotiations” with the platform’s leadership.
“Today, Kenya is among the select few countries whose creators are paid for their original content on Facebook. We fought hard and we won. And we are not stopping,” he noted.
Ruto highlighted that Kenyan creators are now benefiting from monetization on other platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, which have expanded their payout programs to the country.
The Head of State also disclosed that during his scheduled visit to the United States next month, he will engage with global technology companies to secure further partnerships in support of Kenyan digital entrepreneurs.
Among his key priorities is the integration of mobile money service M-PESA into Facebook’s payment system, a move he said would make payouts faster and more accessible for local creators. He added that he intends to push Google to allow Kenyans to purchase advertisements using M-PESA, thereby broadening opportunities for small businesses.
“This change will benefit both creatives and MSMEs selling their products online, creating a win-win situation for Kenya and YouTube, which will enjoy more transactions on its platform,” Ruto explained.
The directive marks a significant step in aligning government communication with the realities of a rapidly evolving digital economy while empowering content creators and small businesses to thrive on global platforms.
