The number of bloggers in Kenya has hit 4005, according to latest statistics. The blogosphere expanded by nearly 90% over the past 5 years. In East Africa, Kenya has the highest number of bloggers followed by Uganda and Tanzania respectively.
It’s estimated that a total of 1001 blogs are actively updated while 14,800 others are dormant. Statistics from hosting companies in Kenya show that at least 60 websites are created each day in Kenya.
About 90% of bloggers in Kenya earn their living through AdSense, which is owned by Google, others make a living through sponsored posts and direct advertising. There are also other AdSense alternatives like MGID which supports bloggers in terms of income.
On average a blogger in Kenya makes Ksh 30,000 per month. However, there are a couple of bloggers who make up to Ksh 1 million per month. Such blogs include Ghafla, Tuko, Standard Media, The Star, Nation and Citizen. We also have 10 blogs that make between Ksh 500,000 to Ksh 1 million per month, they include Venas News, Kenyans, Mpasho and Capital FM.
It’s sad that bloggers who don’t have self-hosting websites live in abject poverty—they make less than Ksh 30,000. And for your information, bloggers who make noise on Facebook and Twitter are broke—rich bloggers eat silently. I know a number of them who make up to Ksh 1 million a month and when you meet them on the streets, you may mistake them for casual workers in Industrial Area.Blogging pays but only when you diversify your source of income.
