In Kenya, where office jobs are becoming increasingly scarce, young people are turning to content creation and photography to earn a living.
Leveraging technology, many are using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to stay ahead of the curve.
On Sundays, groups of young people gather with their cameras, dancing in a coordinated manner before posting their content on these platforms.
With 35% of the Kenyan population aged 15 to 34, the United Nations estimates that 67% of this age group is unemployed.
For Vincent Otieno, 22, content creation represents an essential source of income for him and his group of six dancers from the slums of Nairobi.
They earn money through tips from fans on TikTok, ads on YouTube, and performances at parties.
On average, each member of the group earns about $120 per month.
"We post on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, where we earn about one hundred dollars a month, which is better than nothing," explains Otieno.
For Caycee Achieng Mboya, 25, an urban fashion model also known as Lupita Nyakisumo, social media is just another job.
She claims that her TikTok account, with over 200,000 followers, is a platform where she promotes various products to her clients.
In 2022, the Nairobi County government abolished all commercial permits for photographers and filmmakers, deeming them obsolete. Previously, licenses issued by the Kenya Film and Classification Board were required, and their absence could result in heavy fines and arrest.
The dynamic trio of Angeline Muema, Trisha Pangie and Cecilia Nyambura, all 20 years old, have been creating content on TikTok for a year.
Angeline, still a student, expresses her doubts about the possibility of finding an office job after graduation.
"It's better for me to make these videos and earn something than to remain idle and get nothing. And in the end, maybe I will get my degree, yes, but I might not find a job. So, I might as well make these videos to get something," she said.
Together, the trio earns $600 a month by interacting with fans who give them monetary gifts.
Meanwhile, Mark Maranga, 25, a dancer with a degree in nursing and public health, turned to creating social media content after struggling to find a job.
For him, the platform offers not only income, but also a way to avoid social vices.
"Instead of engaging in activities like theft or burglaries, this has helped many young people. They get involved in activities like dancing and can thus achieve something. With the money they earn, even if it is not much, they can feed their families," he explains.
For many young Kenyans, creating content for social media has become a lifeline, offering hope and financial support in a job market that leaves them few other options.
