Latest Kenya YouTube Data Shows Popular Creators Don’t Prefer Shorts, Probably Because Tiktok Exists

YouTube has released a list of the most watched videos in Kenya revealing a sharp rise in consumption of locally generated content from Kenya’s general elections news, comedies, music, religious, and real-life talk shows.

The lists show locally created content that celebrates different ways of life by Kenyans within homes, villages, and workplaces registered the highest viewership. 

Thee Pluto Show by content creator Robert Ndegwa led in the Top Creators’ category followed by Pastor Ezekiel Odero’s New Life TV Kenya channel and real-life experiences talk show channels, Lynn Ngugi and Mungai Eve respectively.

Other top creators were Nicholas Kioko, Churchill Television, Jackie Matubia, Comrade’s Flavour, TT Comedian and Nigeria’s comedy channel SamSpedy.

Among the top trending videos were songwriter-artist Zuchu’s performance at a local secondary school in Tanzania, child content creator TT Comedian, NTV’s live coverage of William Ruto being declared president, and news about Kenya’s 2022 election results that was live-streamed on YouTube.

Discussing personal finance, love life, baby ‘journey’ to family issues saw Jackie Matubia’s channel attract the highest number of new subscriptions registered followed by MbiliTV, Obinna TV, Okumba Junior, Aicy Stevens and Nick Kwach, Austin Muigai, Ariane Dashian, Hunch Show, NichLmao and I am Kabugi respectively.

The data released shows Nigeria’s music composition ‘Calm Down’ by Rema was the most viewed and listened to song followed by Otile Brown’s new release ‘Woman’ featuring Tanzanian crooner Harmonize and ‘Toto’ by gospel-turned-secular pop artist Willy Paul.

Hit single ‘Why’ by Rwanda’s music icon, The Ben featuring Diamond Platnumz also enjoyed top rating followed by ‘Mtasubiri by Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz featuring Zuchu, ‘Mi Amor’ by Marioo featuring Zuchu, Ali Kiba’s Utu, Kishash featuring Ndovu Kuu, and Ghananian crooner Camidoh’s ‘Sugarcane’ remix featuring Mayorkun, King Promise and Darkoo.

A social experiment of a blind man carrying precious electronic gadgets falling Ilya Borzon uploaded that on their YouTube Shorts channel was the most watched in the Top Shorts category followed by Omar Raja, How Ridiculous, Bam and Bri Nation, Tov Family, SportsNation, michakdayo TV, Hingaflips, Gau and Kem as well as Nigerian comedian Ayodele Aguda’s Mc Shem Comedian channel.

Still, while making Shorts, it appears that major creators are not churning out such content as often as possible.

YouTube is already trying to appeal to creators to use Shorts, whose biggest rival is Tiktok. Currently, there is a fair that will see creators walk away with up to KES 1 million if they put in more work to popularize Shorts. Still, Tiktok remains undefeated and has seen many clones from leading internet companies try to compete with it.

Summary

Top Trending Videos

1. ZUCHU NA WANAFUNZI WAKICHEZA BAIKOKO MPYA SHULENI- Ophoro Tube
2. Eid Special Don’t Miss New Unlimited Funny Viral Trending Video 2022 – Busy Fun Ltd
3. 100 Days Building A Modern Underground Hut With A Grass Roof And A Swimming Pool – Mr.Heang Update
4. TT Comedian KIBWAGIZO – TT Comedian
5. LIVE: William Ruto Declared President-Elect | 2022 Presidential Election Results -NTV
6. My friend killed my son when I was in Saudi Arabia and no one will help track her down – Lynn Ngugi
7. CHEBAIBAI by JUSTUS MUTAI TUNO (Official 4K Video) – JUSTUS M. TUNO
8. news 54 Live | Kenya 2022 election results Stream – News54
9. SEE WHAT RAILA ODINGA DID TO THIS DISABLED MAN IN KWALE!- Kenya Digital News
10. AFRICAN HOME DRAMA!!: UNEXPECTED! #saturdaydosage – Flaqo Raz

Top YouTube Shorts

1. ILYA BORZOV
2. Omar Raja – ESPN
3. How Ridiculous
4. Bam and Bri Nation
5. Tov Family
6. SportsNation
7. mishakdayo tv
8. Hingaflips
9. Gấu & Kem
10. Mc Shem Comedian

Top Music Videos

1. Rema – Calm Down
2. Otile Brown X Harmonize – Woman
3. WILLY PAUL – TOTO
4. The Ben Ft Diamond Platnumz – WHY
5. Diamond Platnumz Ft Zuchu – Mtasubiri
6. Zuchu – Mwambieni 
7. Marioo x Jovial – Mi Amor
8. Alikiba – UTU 
9. KISHASH FT NDOVU KUU
10. Camidoh – Sugarcane Remix (Feat. Mayorkun, King Promise & Darkoo)

Top Creators

1. Thee Pluto Show
2. New Life TV KENYA
3. Lynn Ngugi
4. Mungai Eve
5. Nicholas Kioko
6. Churchill Television
7. Jackie Matubia
8. COMRADES FLAVOUR
9. TT Comedian
10. SamSpedy

Breakout Creators

1. Jackie Matubia
2. mbili Tv
3. Obinna TV
4. Okumba Junior
5. Aicy Stevens & Nick Kwach
6. Austin Muigai
7. Ariane Dashian
8. hunch show
9. NichLmao
10. I AM KABUGI