Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, has clarified that its monetization program has not yet been expanded to Kenya, despite earlier announcements.
This follows complaints from Kenyan musician and content creator Michael Bundi, who revealed that, contrary to official statements, the monetization tools are not yet available in the country.
The issue emerged after President William Ruto announced on August 6, 2024, that Kenyan content creators would be able to start monetizing their content on Meta’s platforms. “Beginning today, Kenyan content creators can monetize their videos on Meta platforms. We urge our creatives to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance their incomes and create job opportunities for others,” the president stated.
The announcement was supported by Moon Baz, Meta’s Africa, Middle East, and Turkey (AMET) Global Partnerships Lead, who confirmed that monetization tools such as in-stream ads and ads on reels would be rolled out, enabling creators to earn money through advertisements on Facebook. “This expansion will empower eligible creators in Kenya to earn money, while setting the bar high for creativity across the world,” Baz stated in a press release.
However, on August 18, Bundi expressed his frustration after receiving an email from Meta indicating that the monetization program was not yet available in Kenya. The email stated, “At the moment, you are pre-registered for ad breaks. Your country is not supported at this time, but the program is expanding! You will automatically gain access if we expand to your country.”
Bundi voiced his disappointment on social media, saying, “Unfortunately, the in-stream ads monetization announced by William Ruto and Moon Baz has not taken effect in Kenya. As a creator, I am very disappointed.”
In response to Bundi’s concerns, Moon Baz acknowledged the issue and assured users that Meta was working on resolving it. “We are looking into this,” Baz replied, although no specific timeline was provided for when the monetization tools would be available in Kenya.
