How to Make Money on TikTok in Kenya

Ian MuiruriAuthor
5 min read

"Learn how to make money on TikTok in Kenya without showing your face. This step-by-step guide covers faceless content, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, live gifts, and practical strategies to start earning online in 2025."

TikTok has become one of the fastest-growing platforms for content creators in Kenya. Beyond entertainment, it’s a powerful tool for earning money online. Whether you are a student, freelancer, or side hustler, TikTok offers multiple monetization avenues, even if you don’t want to show your face.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

  • How TikTok monetization works in Kenya

  • Ways to earn money on TikTok, including faceless content

  • Step-by-step strategies for beginners

  • How to scale your earnings using affiliate marketing and other online opportunities

This article also connects with our previous guides, including How to Make Money on YouTube in Kenya, Faceless YouTube, Affiliate Marketing in Kenya, and Top 10 Side Hustles in Kenya, giving you a complete roadmap for online income.


What Is TikTok Monetization?

TikTok monetization involves earning money directly or indirectly from the content you post. Key methods include:

  • TikTok Creator Fund: TikTok pays creators based on views, engagement, and content quality.

  • Brand partnerships & sponsorships: Companies pay influencers to promote products.

  • Live gifts: Fans send virtual gifts during TikTok live streams, redeemable for cash.

  • Affiliate marketing: Promote products via affiliate links in your bio or captions.

  • Selling products or services: Digital products, courses, or merchandise.

TikTok monetization can complement other online income streams, such as faceless YouTube channels or freelancing opportunities outlined in our How to Make Money Online in Kenya guide.

How to Make Money on TikTok in Kenya


Requirements to Start Earning on TikTok in Kenya

Before monetizing, you need to meet basic requirements:

  • TikTok account in good standing

  • Minimum follower count for certain programs (e.g., 10,000 for Creator Fund eligibility)

  • Consistent content uploads

  • Engagement with your audience

  • Bank account or M-Pesa for payment transfers

Unlike YouTube, you can start earning with fewer followers if you leverage affiliate marketing or brand deals. For example, our Affiliate Marketing in Kenya guide shows how you can earn via links even without a huge following.


Ways to Make Money on TikTok

1. TikTok Creator Fund

  • TikTok pays creators based on views and engagement.

  • Works best for consistent content creators with thousands of views daily.

  • Payment is automatically transferred via linked bank accounts or PayPal.

2. Brand Deals and Sponsorships

  • Partner with companies to promote their products.

  • Kenyan brands and global companies are increasingly using TikTok influencers for campaigns.

  • Rates vary, from KSh 5,000 for small accounts to KSh 200,000+ for larger channels.

3. Live Streaming and Gifts

  • Host live sessions where viewers send gifts.

  • These gifts can be redeemed for cash.

  • This method works well for interactive niches like gaming, education, or motivational content.

4. Affiliate Marketing

  • Share affiliate links in your bio or captions.

  • Use platforms like HustleHub Africa affiliate dashboard (internal link: HustleHub Africa Soko) to promote products from Alibaba, Amazon, and CJ Affiliates.

  • This is perfect for faceless content creators who don’t want to show their face but still want to earn passively.

5. Selling Your Own Products or Services

  • Promote eBooks, courses, digital templates, or merchandise.

  • TikTok’s short video format helps drive traffic to external stores or platforms like Onesocialstack, which helps users create CVs and get connected to jobs in Kenya.

6. Faceless TikTok Content

  • Similar to faceless YouTube channels, you can create content using animations, slideshows, text-to-speech, and stock videos.

  • Ideal for shy creators, students, or anyone starting without equipment.

  • Tools to use: Canva, Pictory, InVideo, CapCut.

For inspiration, check our Faceless YouTube guide. The strategies are highly transferable to TikTok.


How to Start Earning: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Pick Your Niche

Popular Kenyan niches include:

  • Motivation and quotes

  • Tech tutorials

  • Finance and business

  • Comedy and entertainment

  • Health & fitness

  • Educational content

Step 2: Research Trending Topics

Use:

  • TikTok Discover Page

  • Google Trends

  • AnswerThePublic

  • VidIQ or TubeBuddy (for cross-platform idea inspiration)

Step 3: Create Your Content

  • Short videos (15–60 seconds)

  • Use text-to-speech or AI narration if you prefer faceless content

  • Use stock footage or royalty-free clips

Step 4: Optimize for Engagement

  • Catchy captions

  • Hashtags: #MakeMoneyKenya, #OnlineIncome, #TikTokKenya

  • Call-to-action: “Check my bio for more tips”

Step 5: Monetize

  • Join Creator Fund once eligible

  • Start affiliate marketing using HustleHub Africa dashboard

  • Reach out to brands for sponsorships

  • Start selling your digital products


Tips to Succeed on TikTok in Kenya

  • Post consistently (1–3 videos daily is ideal)

  • Focus on engagement, not just views

  • Reuse content ideas from trending global TikTok videos, localizing them for Kenya

  • Cross-promote on YouTube, Instagram, or WhatsApp groups

  • Experiment with faceless content for scalability

These tips also apply to other online income streams discussed in our Top 10 Side Hustles in Kenya blog.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake
❌ Posting inconsistent content
❌ Ignoring trends and hashtags
❌ Relying on a single revenue stream
❌ Copying content without adding value
❌ Not engaging with followers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question Answer
Can I make money on TikTok without showing my face? Yes, you can create faceless content using AI voices, slideshows, and stock footage.
How many followers do I need to earn? For Creator Fund: 10,000 followers. For brand deals/affiliate marketing: no strict minimum.
Can I use TikTok on my phone only? Absolutely. Many Kenyan creators manage their channels entirely via smartphones.
How fast can I start earning? Some earn within weeks via affiliate links or small sponsorships; Creator Fund takes longer.
Can TikTok videos drive traffic to other platforms? Yes, link to your YouTube, HustleHub Africa dashboard, Onesocialstack, or online store.

Conclusion

TikTok offers a flexible, beginner-friendly platform to earn money online in Kenya. You don’t need:

Not Required
❌ A camera
❌ A studio
❌ To show your face
❌ A large following at the start
❌ Expensive editing software

CTA:
Start your online journey today by creating faceless content on TikTok, and combine it with HustleHub Africa for affiliate opportunities and other proven online income strategies.


Written by

Ian Muiruri