NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – Submissions have opened for the 10th edition of the BAKE Awards, as new research shows Kenya’s digital content industry has grown into a Sh1.27 trillion ($9.8 billion) creator economy.
The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) said the 2026 awards will run from January to June, marking a return to the competition’s traditional calendar after a late-season schedule in 2025.
The awards come amid findings by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Baraza Media Lab, PwC and UNESCO indicating that digital creators are now significant contributors to the economy, alongside more established sectors.
This year’s theme, “The Creator Economy: Turning Content into Capital,” reflects the increasing professionalisation of content creation, with creators transitioning from informal hobbyists to structured businesses generating income and employment.
BAKE Chairperson Kennedy Kachwanya said digital media has evolved into a fully-fledged industry, driven by innovation and rising quality standards among Kenyan creators.
The awards will recognise creators across platforms including TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, Spotify and traditional blogs, providing what BAKE says is a predictable annual cycle for showcasing digital work.
Key dates for the 2026 BAKE Awards include the opening of submissions on January 12, with entries closing on March 2. Judging will run from March 3 to April 3, followed by public voting between April 6 and May 29. Winners will be announced at a gala event on June 6.
The 2025 awards, which concluded in December, recorded intense competition and produced the first-ever tie for Creator of the Year between JoyRide Podcast and Sarah Njoroge, highlighting the growing depth of Kenya’s digital content space.
The BAKE Awards are supported by partners involved in digital media development, including Absa Bank Kenya, UNESCO, KICTANET, Baraza Media Lab and the Media Council of Kenya.
