Kenyans To Wait Longer Before Earning From Facebook & Instagram

Photo: Courtesy

Kenyan Facebook creators are facing potential delays in accessing monetization opportunities due to the ongoing political instability in the country.

Michael Bundi, a Kenyan singer, voiced his frustrations on Meta’s platform Threads, directing his concerns to Moon Baz, the Creator Partnerships Lead for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at Meta.

Michael Bundi expressed growing concern among Kenyan creators regarding the prolonged delay in the launch of Facebook monetization opportunities.

In a direct query to Moon Baz, the Creator Partnerships Lead for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at Meta, Bundi asked if there was a possibility that the monetization program rollout in Kenya had been cancelled.

His question reflected the disappointment and diminishing optimism among local creators who had been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to monetize their content on Facebook.

Response from Moon Baz

Moon Baz responded to Michael Bundi’s query, reassuring Kenyan creators that the Facebook monetization rollout had not been cancelled but was temporarily postponed due to the sensitive political climate in Kenya.

“We are still ready to launch! We are mindful that this is a sensitive moment in the country, and out of respect, we have paused the launch temporarily. We are hoping to launch very, very soon!! The rollout was not cancelled,” Moon Baz stated, addressing the concerns about the delayed rollout of monetization opportunities on the platform.

Meta’s earlier plans

In March 2024, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, unveiled its intentions to launch monetization features for Kenyan users by June 2024.

This announcement came during a significant event at State House, Nairobi, where Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, disclosed that President William Ruto had underscored the importance of enabling creators to generate income directly from the platform, rather than solely through local product endorsements.

This move aimed to empower Kenyan content creators by providing them with new avenues to monetize their online presence.

Monetisation tools for creators

Once the monetization program launches, Kenyan creators can expect to access several tools to generate revenue:

Instream Ads on Facebook & Instagram: These are image or video ads that appear before, during, or after video content. They provide advertisers with a way to reach their target audience seamlessly while users engage with video content.
Instagram Gifts: Creators can monetize their Reels content through this feature. Viewers have the option to send virtual gifts to creators as a way to show appreciation for their work.
Facebook Stars: This feature allows followers to support creators by purchasing and sending Stars. Creators can earn Stars as a form of appreciation from their audience for gaming, live streams, on-demand videos, photos, or text content.

These tools aim to provide Kenyan creators with diverse opportunities to monetize their content on Facebook and Instagram, enhancing their ability to earn income directly from their online presence.

Eligibility for monetisation

Kenya is set to join the list of eligible countries for Facebook and Instagram monetization tools soon. To qualify for these opportunities, creators will need to meet the following criteria:

More than 5,000 Followers: Creators must have at least 5,000 followers on their Facebook page or Instagram account.
Over 18 Years Old: Creators must be at least 18 years old to participate in the monetization program.
More than Five Active Videos: They should have published more than five active videos on their page or account.
Accumulate Over 60,000-Minute Views: Creators need to have accumulated over 60,000 minutes of views on their videos in the last 60 days.
Compliance with Monetization Policies and Community Standards: Creators must adhere to Facebook’s and Instagram’s monetization policies and community standards.

These criteria are designed to ensure that creators are actively engaged on the platform, have a significant following, and meet the necessary thresholds for audience engagement before they can access monetization features.