Digital Content creation has in recent times become a source of income for a majority of Kenyans.
This is mostly driven by the fact that all one needs is a digital phone, reliable internet connectivity, an idea, and luck too for their content to gain traction.
The aim is often to generate content that has the capacity to go viral and share it with the right network to achieve that objective.
In Kenya, quite a number of individuals have benefitted from viral content that has led them to get brand endorsements locally and internationally while others got appointments to senior government offices.
But who are some of these individuals? Kenyans.co.ke highlights those who used social media to make a breakthrough.
1. John Ogilo Migun (the dancing Chief)
Migun is the latest Kenyan who sprung into the limelight after their videos went viral online.
The dancing chief, as he is now commonly referred to was filmed at a popular nightclub in Kisumu while dancing to the hit song Kuna Kuna.
Christened the ‘Mindoko chief’ by the public, the administrator has remained the talk of the town owing to his graceful dance moves at entertainment joints.
The 38-year-old Northern Sub Location assistant chief in Kisumu Central Sub-County on Sunday, January 22 landed a new role in the government to market Huduma Kenya services besides his role as an administrator.
Dressed in a Huduma Center-branded white shirt Migun was tasked to sensitise the youth on the government services provided at the Huduma Centre.
2. Ivy Chelimo, (Riggy G brand creator)
Kenyan content creator Ivy Chelimo, behind Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's nickname ‘Riggy G’ took up a job opportunity in Gachagua’s office after the moniker went viral.
Chelimo first came up with the nickname on Twitter during Deputy Presidential debate in July 2022 but her moment of fame would wait until after the election.
This was after the nickname was well received and went viral on the platform and Kenyans started a search for its originator
The then-law student indicated in an interview that she never for once thought that the name would generate all that buzz until when her friend texted and informed her that she was trending on Twitter.
Gachagua would proudly take on the nickname in stride with President William Ruto on several occasions addressing him as Riggy G in public events.
3. Meshack Kiprop (Arap Uria)
Kenyan content creator and comedian Meshack Kiprop, artistically known as Arap Uria, came to the limelight through his mimicking of celebrated English football commentator Peter Drury.
The firstborn in a family of eight says his dream was to be a journalist, but due to pressure from his parents, he had to pursue a Bachelor of Education at Masinde Muliro University.
He started comedy by impersonating political leaders, but he later noticed that some of his fans were taking it personally as he could receive unending backlash from them through comments.
As a creative, he had to switch to football and he found fulfilment in impersonating Drury.
It was his lip-syncing commentary that catapulted him to international fame as one of the most influential comedians in the country.
He shot to fame for lip-synching Drury’s poetic commentaries including the famous UEFA Champions League match between AS Roma and Barcelona where the Italians thrashed the Catalans 4-0.
He would, later on, meet his idol during the Qatar World cup and pose for photos too.
4.Charles Odongo, (Ugali Man)
Charles Odongo, popularly known as ‘UgaliMan’ is well known after he captured the attention of netizens by tossing a ball of ugali in the air before grabbing it with a whack and swallowing it almost in a flash.
The Rongai-based gym instructor, through his ugali gimmicks, received a brand new seven-seater Voxy van, a fully-kitted gym, and a Ksh5 million cheque to support his fitness business from a brand.
Before his rise to popularity, the father of three was a trainer who ran a gym in Rongai, Kajiado County.
5. Azziad Nasenya
Azziad is an award-winning Kenyan actress, content creator, media host, and social media personality. She is popularly known as Kenya's TikTok Queen.
She got her big break on Tik Tok in 2020 after a viral video of her dancing to the song ‘Utawezana’ went viral.
The internet imploded and the hashtags #Azziad and #Utawezana trended online platforms for quite some time.
She would go ahead and secure brand endorsements with both local and international brands.
Nasenya has 1.8 million followers on Instagram and she remains among the most followed influencer on Tik Tok with a stunning 2.4 million followers.
In 2020, she landed a role on television and was to play a lead role in the television series. The show was however postponed following the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also made her first appearance in the Selina Telenovela on Maisha Magic East by M-Net and MultiChoice.
