TOP 10 SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS IN KENYA

When choosing a social media influencer to partner with. You need to consider various factors. Factors such as:

• Would the influencer’s following and content appeal to your target audience?

• Does the influencer have the appropriate level of reach?

• Would the influencer agree to work with your budget?

You also need to put into account the metrics that matter. Different platforms have different metrics that might apply to your campaign. For instance, on video-based platforms such as YouTube, the total watch time matters, because it tells you whether or not the influencer’s content is appealing. This will help you come up with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), that will inform your campaign budget. Examples of KPIs could be— total reach that the campaign needs to amass, or total follower count from the campaign, if you are looking to increase your page’s following.

There are various levels of influencers such as macro, micro and nano influencers. In this article, we are going to cover mostly micro and macro influencers across X, YouTube and Tiktok

TOP TWITTER INFLUENCERS IN KENYA

X, formerly Twitter, is a popular social media platform where users gather to share their thoughts on a wide range of topics. X is majorly text-based, and therefore it is more appropriate for sectors that do not have tangible products. Majorly service-based sectors such as PR, Technology, government and NGOs. Its demographic consists of a much older, more informed audience, relative to newer platforms such as Snapchat or Tiktok.

@Osama_otero

Popularly known by his social media handle, Osama uses creative puns and banter to appeal to his demographic of more than 283,000 followers on X. His following and content is diverse, making him relevant for all types of industries or products.

@_CrazyNairobian

Otherwise known as Billy, he has a following of more than 393,000 accounts on X. He got popular through funny and perfectly curated threads on Twitter. His content is applicable to multiple types of products or companies in various sectors.

@janetmachuka_

This is another big account on X, with more than 224,000 followers. She mainly tweets about digital marketing content, and was the founder of #AfricaTweetChat, a popular thread/ space where people come together to talk about all things, digital marketing. As you could have guessed, she is appropriate for all kinds of digital marketing campaigns, and products targeting corporates; such as digital marketing tools, as her following is mainly made up of working-class people.

TOP YOUTUBERS IN KENYA

Youtube is a video-based platform, where content creators can post videos. Bearing in mind that prospective clients are much more likely to watch video-based content, than static content, then Youtube might be the platform for you.

@LynnNgugi

With more than 935,000 subscribers, and almost 400 videos on YouTube. Lynn Ngugi is one of the biggest YouTubers in Kenya. She normally creates human interest stories by interviewing people from all kinds of life. Formally a Tuko journalist, you can already guess that she has the educational credentials to back her craft. Her videos amass a substantial viewership, as they appeal to people from all walks of life, with a total lifetime viewership of more than 124 million.

She is therefore relevant for most types of target groups.

@MungaiEve

This is also another large Kenyan channel on YouTube. Before the split with her boyfriend, Director Trevor, her channel had around 700,000 subscribers. But after the break-up, she had to create another channel from scratch, with the new channel already amassing more than 141,000 subscribers. So you can already deduce that she is a powerhouse, as far as content is concerned. She mostly posts gossip stories on her channel, and interviews with various popular celebrities.

@theeplutoshow

Thee Pluto Show boasts of a subscriber base of almost 912,000 subscribers, making it one of the largest channels in Kenya. He mainly posts content on couples; such as fights or cheating scandals, making his channel a mainstay in many Kenyan households, especially among the younger demographics who love keeping up with local drama. He has a total lifetime viewership of 234 million. So if you want to appeal to a wide demographic of your everyday Kenyan, then this might be the channel for you.

TOP INSTAGRAM INFLUENCERS IN KENYA

Instagram is an app where users can post photos or short videos(reels). Therefore, Instagram focuses much more on aesthetics rather than intellect, compared to X. If you have a cosmetic, or clothing line, or are a photographer or videographer, then Instagram might be the platform for you due to its emphasis on visually appealing content.

@kim_kardicey

With a following of more than 57,000 followers on Instagram. Kim Kardicey mainly posts fashion and lifestyle content on Instagram. Her well-curated reels and posts appeal to many young Kenyan girls. Consequently, if you have a beauty product, hair line, or you are a hotelier, then she is one of the brands you should partner with.

@zarilyn.zonroe 

Zarilyn has more than 70,000 followers on Instagram. She mainly posts lifestyle and makeup content on Instagram. Some of the popular brands she has worked with include Jumia and Maybelline.

TOP TIKTOK INFLUENCERS IN KENYA

TikTok is a much more recent application that primarily focuses on short videos. It is hugely responsible for the erosion of dopamine levels, especially among the younger demographics. Consequently, it has faced much more backlash across various jurisdictions and is banned in several countries such as India and Italy. As a result, you might want to reconsider before you make it your main social media marketing channel. Its shortcomings aside, it is a really good application, especially if you want to target the younger demographic. Remember, people usually form their brand loyalties while still young and impressionable, and these brand loyalties often stay the same throughout your lifespan. So if you are a start-up, or you are releasing a new product line or you want to attract a new target group, then TikTok might be the app for you.

@moyadavid1

Moya David is another popular tiktok influencer, with more than 4.8 million followers and 59 million likes. He grew popular on the platform posting dance videos

@Thee Alpha House

Thee Alfa House enjoys a following of more than 2.2 million views on TikTok, with more than 57 million likes. It consists of about 5 - 7 members, excluding videographers. They mainly post well-choreographed dance videos. They may be suitable for pushing products such as clothing lines or accessories. Given that they have a team comprising of videographers and producers, your workload and content creation cost could be considerably reduced if you choose to partner with them.

Conclusion

There you have it. Now you don't have to do much research when looking for an appropriate influencer to partner with during your next influencer marketing campaign. At Sansa Digital, we pride ourselves in being able to stay in touch with upcoming trends, in the social media and digital marketing space. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us on your next online marketing campaign.