Meta has rolled out two innovative monetization tools designed to enable eligible content creators in Kenya to generate revenue. Starting from today, August 6, 2024, Kenyan creators can take advantage of in-stream ads and Facebook ads on reels, which can be integrated before, during, or after their video content, whether it’s pre-recorded or live-streamed.
The tech giant asserts that these new monetization avenues will bolster Kenyan video content creators, offering support in over 30 languages worldwide, including Swahili. Moon Baz, Meta’s global partnership lead for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey (AMET), expressed that the introduction of these tools not only empowers Kenyan creators financially but also elevates the global standard of creativity, positioning Meta’s suite of apps as a comprehensive hub for creators.
Creators wishing to utilize these features must comply with Facebook’s partner and content monetization policies, which mandate that participants be 18 years of age or older. For in-stream ads, specific criteria must be met, such as having a minimum of 5,000 followers and accumulating 60,000 total watch minutes over the last two months.
In-stream ads offer a variety of formats, including pre-roll, mid-roll, image ads, and post-roll, and can be placed within on-demand content, encompassing both pre-recorded videos and live streams. This initiative follows a proposal by President Ruto in December 2023 and a subsequent pilot program that tested these features with a select group of qualified Kenyan creators.
In a significant expansion of its monetization program, Meta approved Facebook monetization for content creators in Nigeria and Ghana in June 2024, following an earlier period where these countries were not included. This move aligns with the company’s broader strategy to enable ad revenue opportunities for creators in various African nations, such as Egypt, South Africa, and Rwanda.
The significance of this expansion is underscored by the high engagement rates on Facebook in Kenya, where over half of the population aged 15 and older are active on the platform. Specifically, 31.96% of Kenyan social media users are on Facebook, with an additional 7.56% using Instagram, among other platforms.
Furthermore, in February 2022, Meta, the umbrella company for Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, announced that content creators across 20 sub-Saharan African countries, including notable markets like South Africa, Seychelles, Senegal, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Kenya, would have the opportunity to generate income through Facebook Reels and in-stream ads. This initiative represents a concerted effort by Meta to tap into the creative potential and digital engagement of the African continent.
