Twitch has suspended monetization in Kenya, citing new regulations that have limited its ability to operate its Partner and Affiliate programs in the country.
In a statement to streamers on Tuesday, August 19, the company confirmed that the suspension was not made lightly but had become unavoidable.
"After careful consideration we've made the difficult decision to suspend monetization in Kenya.
"Recently imposed regulations have restricted our ability to continue offering Twitch monetization opportunities to streamers in Kenya, and we will no longer be able to support the Partner and Affiliate programs in the country," the statement read.
Twitch expressed regret and empathy, acknowledging the frustration the decision is likely to cause within the Kenyan creator community.
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"We understand that this is extremely disappointing news, as many Kenyan streamers have invested a lot of energy in building and growing communities on Twitch.
While you will no longer be able to monetize your Twitch channels, you will still be able to continue streaming and viewing should you choose to," the statement added.
On Twitch, streamers earn mainly through subscriptions, where viewers pay monthly for perks, and Bits, Twitch’s virtual currency that converts to direct earnings.
Other options include ad revenue, direct donations via third-party platforms, sponsorships, merchandise sales, affiliate links, and Twitch’s Bounty Board for sponsored content.
This comes just days after President William Ruto announced his trip to the United States, where he said he is set to meet representatives from Google and Facebook.
Speaking at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County on Saturday, August 16, Ruto said he aims to negotiate with the companies to integrate M-PESA into the platforms’ financial systems.
"Next month, during my visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, I will meet leaders of major global technology companies to expand collaboration for the benefit of our creators. This includes integrating M-PESA into Facebook’s payment system to make payouts faster, easier, and more accessible.
"I will also ask Google to enable Kenyans to purchase adverts via M-PESA - a change that will benefit both creatives and MSMEs selling their products online, creating a win-win situation for Kenya and for YouTube, which will enjoy more transactions on its platform," he said.
