Maandamano Business: How TikTokers Profiteered From Violent Anti-Government Protests In Kenya

• Azimio One Kenya Coalition party held anti-government protests aimed at pushing President William Ruto to lower the cost of living
• The demonstrations held between July 7 and 21 saw hundreds of Kenyans stay away from their businesses
• Social media content creators were, however, busy making money from the clips recorded during protests, with some, like Chris Shani, going to the extent of live streaming
• Shani is reported to have raked up to hundreds of thousands of shillings from the maandamano video clips

Content creators, especially TikTokers, have been pocketing thousands of shillings from recording and sharing live videos from maandamano scenes, it has emerged.

Azimio One Kenya Coalition party, led by Raila Odinga, staged anti-government protests between July 7 and July 21, 2023, paralysing businesses in the country.

How TikTokers thrived during maandamano

But TikTokers like Chris Shani made a fortune from the demonstrations by showing Kenyans who stayed home what was playing in the chaotic streets where police and protesters engaged in running battles.

In one of the videos (live stream) that lasted for 45 minutes, Shani raked in $103 (KSh 14,791), Rest of World reported.

“I had watched other live streams of protests trending. So when I saw people protesting around where I stay, I decided to go live on TikTok, and it just picked up," said Shani.

Another beneficiary of the protests is Brian Musyoka, a 29-year-old grocery store attendant in Machakos, who earned $22 (KSh 3,159) after livestreaming the protest on July 12.

Kenyans remained glued to TikTok and other social media platforms to get the developments of the protests from the creators, who were taking risks and moving closer to tension-filled scenes to capture the best of the action. Most TV stations were not live-streaming the demos.

As businesses in various parts of the country closed, reporting losses, TikTokers were enjoying the peak moment in their biz, which is still earning them to date.

TikTok usage and earnings in Kenya

More than 54% of Kenyans with access to the internet are using TikTok, with 97% likely to watch the news on the platform, a Reuters survey 2023 indicated.

The app guarantees creators better pay, which prompts them to take clips of trending events like maandamano to earn more.

Highest-paid TikTokers earn up to $3000 (KSh 430,800) from virtual gifts on TikTok livestreams.