BAKE Awards 2026 Opens Submissions as Kenya’s Creator Economy Hits Ksh 1.27 Trillion
By Jacquelyne Arusei | Nairobi,
The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) has officially opened submissions for the 10th edition of the BAKE Awards, marking a decade of recognising excellence in Kenya’s digital content industry.
The launch comes as new research by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Baraza Media Lab, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and UNESCO estimates Kenya’s creator economy to be worth approximately Ksh 1.27 trillion (USD 9.8 billion), underscoring the growing economic impact of digital creators.
The 2026 awards return to BAKE’s traditional January–June competition calendar, following a late-season schedule in 2025. This year’s theme, “The Creator Economy: Turning Content Into Capital,” highlights the increasing professionalisation of content creation and its evolution into a sustainable economic sector.
According to BAKE Chairperson Kennedy Kachwanya, digital content creation is no longer a pastime but a fully-fledged industry.
“Digital media has grown into a sector that creates jobs, drives innovation, and positions Kenya as a continental leader in digital entrepreneurship. By returning to our traditional calendar and focusing on turning content into capital, we are reinforcing the idea that content creation is a viable and powerful economic driver,” Kachwanya said.
The awards continue to recognise creators across multiple platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, Spotify, and traditional blogging, providing a consistent annual platform for showcasing Kenyan digital talent.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the BAKE Awards remain a leading platform for honouring excellence and innovation within Kenya’s digital ecosystem.
Key Dates for BAKE Awards 2026:
• Launch: January 12, 2026
• Submissions: January 12 – March 2, 2026
• Judging: March 3 – April 3, 2026
• Public Voting: April 6 – May 29, 2026
• Winners’ Gala: June 6, 2026
The 2025 BAKE Awards, concluded on December 13, recorded unprecedented competition and produced the first-ever tie for Creator of the Year, jointly awarded to the JoyRide Podcast and Sarah Njoroge, reflecting the high quality and competitiveness of Kenya’s digital content space.
The BAKE Awards 2026 are supported by partners committed to the growth of the digital industry, including Absa Bank Kenya, UNESCO, KICTANET, Baraza Media Lab, and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
