Cabinet Secretary for Information and Communications William Kabogo is facing increasing pressure to step in and address complaints about poor social media monetisation affecting Kenyan content creators.
Many digital creators have raised concerns over low earnings and unclear payment systems on major online platforms.
The push for action followed a formal request by Allan Chesang, who on Wednesday, April 29, asked the ministry to urgently look into the issue of content monetisation, especially on X.
Senator Chesang also directed the Senate Standing Committee on ICT to investigate complaints from Kenyan creators regarding how they earn money through X.
According to many users, there are serious concerns about fairness, transparency, and the general structure of the platform’s revenue-sharing system.
The senator explained that Kenya’s growing digital economy has become an important source of income for many young people. Thousands of youths now depend on online content creation through platforms such as YouTube and Facebook to earn a living and support their families.
However, many creators continue to question how their earnings are calculated. They also want clear information on the qualifications needed to join monetisation programs and whether African creators are treated equally compared to users in Europe, America, and other regions.
“The digital economy is becoming a major driver of jobs and income, especially among Kenyan youth who are actively creating content on global online platforms,” Chesang said.
He added that concerns from Kenyan creators about payments on X and the lack of transparency in its monetisation system have now raised serious policy and regulatory questions that need immediate attention.
The senator is now demanding answers on how X’s monetisation model works, including how the platform generates revenue, how that money is shared among creators, and what factors determine the final payouts users receive.
The planned inquiry will also look into whether Kenyan creators face regional disadvantages and how X compares with other social media platforms that already have more structured and established monetisation systems.
At the same time, the committee has been asked to examine whether the Kenyan government has held any talks with X regarding these concerns. This includes checking engagements involving the Ministry of ICT and the Communications Authority of Kenya.
Chesang further called for a review of current laws and policies, especially the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, to determine whether they are strong enough to regulate modern digital monetisation systems and protect Kenyan online creators.
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