NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan TikTok creator Hannah Benta has shed light on the scale of earnings behind her lavish lifestyle, revealing that her income is largely driven by high-value virtual gifts received during live sessions on the platform.
Speaking in an interview with YouTuber 2mbili on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Benta detailed how TikTok live streams, particularly competitive “matches,” have become a lucrative revenue stream for content creators in Kenya’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
“There was a day I earned 200k in just five minutes on TikTok. The least I have ever made, I cannot recall,” she said.
Her remarks offer a rare glimpse into the monetisation mechanics of TikTok, where creators earn income through virtual gifts sent by viewers, which can later be converted into real money.
Benta explained that her highest earnings typically occur during TikTok “matches,” competitive live sessions where creators go head-to-head while fans send gifts to support their preferred streamer.
“However, there are other Kenyan TikTokers who make more than me sometimes, like Prince Mwiti. But I think I have even made 300k in a few minutes on TikTok,” she said.
In one standout instance, she revealed earning approximately KSh1.5 million from a single official TikTok match, an amount that underscores the growing financial potential of the platform.
“When I do a TikTok match, that is when I usually earn the most money. There was a time I got around 1 point something million in one single live, and that was during an official TikTok match. I have never done an official match since. The money was uncountable; I had Universe gifts totalling over 20, and you know a Universe gift equals a lot of money,” she stated.
On TikTok, “Universe” gifts are among the most expensive virtual tokens, often associated with high-spending users, commonly referred to as “whales,” who can dramatically influence a creator’s earnings within minutes.
Despite perceptions that the gifting trend may be slowing, Benta insists that the ecosystem remains active and profitable.
“We usually have matches every day, but not the official ones. It is not like the gifters who used to surprise TikTokers don’t exist; they are still there, and people are still making good money,” she said.
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Her comments come at a time when Kenya’s content creation industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by widespread smartphone use, affordable internet, and a youthful population increasingly turning to digital platforms for income.
For many Gen Z creators, TikTok has become more than just an entertainment platform, it is a viable economic tool capable of generating substantial earnings in real time.
However, industry observers note that such earnings are highly volatile and often depend on audience engagement, consistency, and algorithmic visibility.
While top creators like Benta can command significant returns, the majority of users earn far less, highlighting a widening gap within the creator economy.
Still, her revelations underscore a broader shift in Kenya’s economic landscape, one where digital influence, audience loyalty, and online visibility are increasingly translating into tangible financial success.
