YouTube, WhatsApp and TikTok: how Kenyans get their news in 2026
Video platforms and creators have become main news sources for many Kenyans, and trust in news remains high.
Kenyans are getting more of their news through social platforms, and much of it through video. According to the Reuters Institute's Digital News Report 2026, as reported by Kenyan media:
| Platform used for news | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 66% | 54% |
| 63% | 52% | |
| 62% | 46% | |
| TikTok | 58% | 38% |
TikTok's jump of 20 percentage points in a single year is the sharpest change. YouTube has now overtaken Facebook as the top platform for news.
Creators are now part of the news
58% of Kenyans say they get news from online creators every week, and a third say creators meet most of their news needs. Trust in news overall stands at 68%, among the highest of the African countries in the study.
What this means: high trust is an asset that is easy to lose. Creators who explain with named sources, as Nchiwise aims to, can earn that trust; those who chase rumours can spend it quickly.
How to read news on your phone more carefully
- Check who made it. A named outlet or creator with a track record is more accountable than an anonymous account.
- Look for the source. Good explainers link to the document, report or official data behind a claim.
- Check the date. Old clips are often reshared as if they were new.
Prefer to watch? Nchiwise explains it on videoShort videos on how countries develop and scale.
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