sophy okwiri 
A Youth working on his Laptop/{Photo/Courtesy}
Clicks, Content, and Cash! The Gen Z Money Playbook;
- Influencing and Content Creation.
More than half of Kenyan youth dream of becoming influencers. While some may dismiss it as attention-seeking, for many, it’s a real and rewarding career.
From shooting creative content to advertising for brands, Gen Z is finding ways to earn a living in the digital space.
Gone are the days when success meant a suit and an 8 a.m. office job. Today, influence demands patience, skill, and the ability to shoot, edit, and package content often as a one person marketing team.
Influencers with over 10,000 followers can command impressive fees per campaign, depending on their niche and engagement levels.
Farming for Views and Comments
With platforms like X and Facebook now paying for engagement, many young people are working hard to create more stories, spark discussions, and cash in. However, this rise in online activism has also drawn government attention.
Cases such as the arrest and release of Titus Wekesa over his “I Must Go” Campaign highlight the tension between free expression and state control, especially in a politically charged season.
Still, for many, the real focus is turning clicks, likes, and comments into income.
The Reality of Youth Unemployment
According to the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), Kenya’s youth unemployment rate stands at a staggering 67%. Every year, over a million young people enter the job market, many without formal skills, making alternative income sources more appealing and sometimes necessary.
Freelancing, Work on Your Own Terms
For Gen Z, flexibility is king.Having grown up amid economic uncertainty, they value work that allows control over their schedules and income streams.
From coding and web design to YouTube channels, TikTok dances, online writing, and digital marketing, they are turning creativity into cash.
Global platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn make it easier to connect with clients anywhere in the world.
For this generation, freelancing isn’t just a side hustle, it’s a lifestyle built on autonomy, creativity, and personal branding.
