- Who are the highest paid TikTokers in Kenya today? Analysis reveals that TikTok sensation Azziad Nasenya, Moya David and Dennis Ombachi, he of ‘Done!’ cooking videos are some of the highly paid influencers on the short video sharing platform.
- In Africa, Senegalese TikTok sensation Khabane Lame who’s based in Italy tops the charts
The video-sharing app, TikTok, has created millionaires since it was launched in 2016 by China’s ByteDance Ltd.
A report by Forbes revealed that the highest-paid celebrities on TikTok took home US$55.5 million in 2021, a 200 per cent increase from 2020.
The report indicated that TikTok stars earn 30 to 50 per cent of their money from sponsored content. Sponsored content involves sharing posts that are paid for by companies advertising their products on the platform.
Since TikTok was launched in 2018, it has grown tremendously to register over a billion users, with big multinationals such as Amazon, McDonald’s and Louis Vuitton buying ads.
TikTok celebrities with millions of followers charge up to US$ 500,000 per post, but the average cost is US$100,000 to US$250,000.
Africa’s top earner on TikTok
With over 160 million followers on TikTok, Khaby Lame is one of the highest-paid influencers in Africa and around the world, earning approximately $20 million annually. Media reports indicate that he charges roughly $750,000 for a single sponsored post.
Kenyan social media influencers have not been left behind as they have taken advantage of the app to make money from brand influencing.
Highest Paid TikTokers in Kenya (2026): How Much They Really Earn
- Azziad Nasenya
The Kenyan TikTok queen rose to fame after her video dancing to the Utawezana hit by Mejja featuring Femi One went viral. Since then, Azziad has continued to gain thousands of fans, making her venture into content creation.
Currently, she is widely regarded as one of the highest-paid influencers on TikTok, with her rates for a single post are estimated between $1,000 and $7,000. She has built a massive brand through dance and lifestyle content, partnering with major corporations such as Safaricom, Bic, Cortex, and Phillips.
- Moya David
Moya David is a popular TikToker, who is particularly famous for his viral surprise dance videos. Media reports estimate that he earns between $800 to $5,000 per post. At the moment, Moya David is arguably the most followed Kenyan creator on TikTok with just over 3.4 million followers.
3. Dennis Ombachi
Popularly known as the roaming chef, Dennis Ombachi, has carved his niche on social media platforms, amassing a huge following. The former rugby player is known for his “Done!” statement on his cooking videos, which are his primary focus on his journey to becoming a top-tier content creator.
Ombachi’s high engagement and international appeal make him a prime target for premium brand partnerships and he has equally attracted top personalities in his cooking shows.
- Ajib Gathoni
Gathoni joined Tiktok in March 2020 wamid the COVID-19 pandemic and has since grown to currently attracting over 1.2 million followers. Quite often, Ajib collaborates with various brands such as beverages giant Coca-Cola and telco Safaricom. She has worked with electronics company LG, telecommunications giant Safaricom and shoe company Bata.
Gathoni earns a tidy sum of money sharing sponsored content on her page. On average, brand sponsorships attract good payouts typically ranging between KES 5,000 to KES 100,000 per post for mid-tier creators, and significantly more for top-tier names.
At first, she just wanted to pass the time since universities and other earning institutions had been closed to curb the spread of the virus. In 2022, she won the Best Dance Influencer award.
Other top earning content creators are King Khana and Diana Bahati. King Khana is a notable content creator whose earnings per post are estimated to range from $300 to $1,800.
