In recent years, Kenya has witnessed an explosive growth in internet penetration and digital consumption, with YouTube emerging as the go-to platform for entertainment and information.
As more Kenyans connect to the online world, YouTube channels have become powerful vehicles for content creators to captivate audiences, build communities and establish influential online brands.
In this article, WoK delves into the vibrant YouTube landscape of Kenya and shine a spotlight on the top twenty most subscribed YouTube channels in the country.
Topping the list is Citizen TV Kenya, a leading media station owned by Royal Media Services (RMS), which boasts over 4.2 million subscribers.
The channel was established in June 2008, and with 150,000 videos, it has over 1.6 billion cumulative views.
Tech Freeze which was established in January 2012 has 24.2 million total views and a whopping 2.7 million subscribers.
KTN News Kenya comes in at the third position with 2.6 million subscribers, 117,000 videos and over 836 total views.
The channel was set up in July 2008.
Nation Media Group’s NTV Kenya was ranked fourth having managed 2.2 million subscribers, over 770 million total views and 57,000 videos.
Churchill Television owned by veteran comedian Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki is fifth most subscribed YouTube channel with 2.1 million subscribers.
Additionally, the channel has over 4,700 videos and over 678 million cumulative views.
Coming in at the sixth position is Africha Entertainment, a YouTube channel established in December 2013.
It has over 354 million total views from 11,000 videos. The channel has 1.85 million subscribers.
Super Tamu Tamu was ranked seventh most subscribed channel with some 1.58 million subscribers.
From 767 videos, the channel has managed over 107 million total views.
K24TV comes in at the eight position with 1.31 million subscribers, 66,000 videos and over 214 million total views.
Musician Otile Brown was ranked ninth among the most subscribed YouTube channels with over 1.31 million subscribers.
From 82 videos, most of which are music videos, the musician has managed 343 million cumulative views.
Closing the top ten list is Alvins Audi, established in August 2022, and has over 1.24 million subscribers, 1,000 videos and 1.8 million total views.
RDHD Comps and musician Bahati come in at the 11th and 12th position with 1.19 million and 1.18 million subscribers respectively.
While RDHD Comps has over 290 million total views, Bahati has managed 218 million cumulative views since setting up the channel in August 2012.
Sharma Boy, a Somali musical artiste, is ranked at position 13 with 1.18 million subscribers and 87 videos which has earned him a total 229 million views.
At the 14th and 15th position is Simulizi Na Sauti and Nation, media outlets from Tanzania and Kenya respectively.
Simulizi Na Sauti has 1.17 million subscribers and 342 million total views while Nation has 1.1 million subscribers and 498 million total views.
Other channels making up the top twenty most subscribed YouTube channels in Kenya are Willy Paul Thee Poze (1.09 million) Richy Haniel (1.08 million) Astaan (1.04 million) Sauti Sol (1.03 million) and Hero Smashers (1 million).