Kenya and TikTok Join Forces to Empower Next Generation of Creators

On October 1, TikTok held its annual #LevelUpAfrica Creator Education Day in partnership with the Government of Kenya, bringing together creators, media, industry influencers, and government officials.

The platform emphasized TikTok’s growing investment in the digital creative economy, focusing on giving young people more opportunities both on and off the app.

During the event, TikTok committed to training, mentoring, and empowering 3,000 creators in Sub-Saharan Africa under its flagship #LevelUpAfrica initiative.

Since 2021, the initiative has amplified African voices globally while creating access to economic opportunities, allowing creators to grow their brand and access collaborations that drive financial and career growth.

“#LevelUpAfrica Creator Education Day is a powerful way to connect with our vibrant creator community in Kenya,” noted Boniswa Sidwaba, Head of Content Operations Sub-Saharan Africa for TikTok. “It’s not just training in skills it’s about building community, sparking collaboration, and giving creators room to take their careers to the next level.

This year we saw more than 150 guests, our biggest event so far, which reflects TikTok’s increasing investment in Kenya.”

Kenya’s Special Envoy for Technology, Amb. Philip Thigo, praised the collaboration, pointing to the country’s strong digital infrastructure. “Kenya has some of the world’s fastest internet speeds, and with three out of five youths having smartphones, there’s huge potential for creators to use platforms like TikTok to upload content worldwide, digitally innovate, and economically develop,” he said.

The government concurred. Stephen Isaboke, State Department Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, pointed out that programs such as #LevelUpAfrica facilitate Kenya’s drive for developing the digital economy with innovation and human capital.

Dennis Itumbi, Presidential Special Projects Head and Creative Economy, further added: “Kenya is becoming Silicon Savannah not only in terms of infrastructure, but imagination.”. Our youth aren’t waiting for employment they’re creating employment, building brands, and driving the economy. And we, as government, want to make it easier and release more of this.

Since it was launched in 2018, TikTok has been used to break barriers to worldwide visibility, creating room for creators who otherwise would not have been seen.

It has gone on to empower Kenyan creators constantly through programs like #LevelUpAfrica, giving them access to training, monetization tools, and practices needed to establish viable careers.

Kenyan tech innovator Roy Kanyi, one of the first cohort in 2021, described the difference: “It completely changed how I create.

From just posting randomly to building a brand that now attracts real collaborations. Apart from the skills, I also gained confidence and a community.”

The day was filled with workshops, networking, and a masterclass session with Emmy Award-winning writer Damaris Irungu Ochieng’, who spoke on storytelling and the entertainment industry. “A story is never just a story. It is identity, protest, and possibility. Sharing space with creators reminded me that Africa’s greatest export is not coffee or gold it is narrative,” she told participants.

Co-creators such as L’Oréal East Africa and Red Bull also sponsored the event, with producers such as BoxtoBoxregista, Lifestory328, Grace Odawa, Azeezah, Cera Imani, Mercy Masai, Rukia Bulle, Roy Kanyi, 14thGunner, and Jahleel Mollel.

These co-created regarding their professional trajectories, individual stories, and lessons in making careers in online content.

The occasion showcased Kenya’s vibrant talent pool of creators and brought to the fore how social media platforms like TikTok are transforming the entertainment, entrepreneurship, and youth employment landscape in Africa.