Government To Start Paying Influencers Who Promote Affordable Housing, SHA, and Other State Programs

The government has unveiled a new plan to pay influencers who create content promoting flagship programs such as affordable housing, healthcare, agriculture, and job creation.

Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the Head of the Creative Economy and Special Projects in the Executive Office of the President, Dennis Itumbi, said the initiative is aimed at modernizing government communication and expanding the reach of public service campaigns.

“The government is willing to put money specifically for a few things that the government is doing, and you can benefit directly,” said Itumbi during an engagement with digital creators. “If you do content around housing, health, job creation, and agriculture, we are willing to put money into it for you.”

Itumbi explained that the government has revamped its advertising strategy, shifting from traditional manual placements to digital platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where younger audiences increasingly consume information.

“We will give you money and notes to create content and earn money by just putting it on TikTok,” he added. “As the government, we have improved our advertisement from manual to digital ads where many audiences want to be informed.”

The program will allow content creators to submit proposals to the Creative Economy Office, outlining how they intend to showcase government projects in creative, informative ways. Successful applicants will receive financial support and resources to produce high-quality campaigns.

Analysts view the move as part of a broader strategy by the Kenya Kwanza administration to leverage the growing influence of Kenya’s digital economy while ensuring citizens are kept informed about programs meant to improve livelihoods.

With Kenya’s creative industry expanding rapidly and thousands of influencers commanding large online followings, the government hopes the collaboration will increase transparency, boost citizen engagement, and modernize the way public information is shared.