What Ruto's US Visit Means for M-PESA Users
- Christabel Adhiambo
- Aug 16
- 2 min read
President William Ruto has announced plans to meet leaders of major global technology companies during his visit to the United States next month, promising expanded opportunities for Kenyan creatives and businesses through mobile money integration.
Speaking during the State Concert of the 97th Kenya Music Festival at Sagana State Lodge on August 16, 2025, Ruto highlighted the potential for M-PESA to revolutionize digital payments for creators and small businesses.
“When I visit New York for the United Nations General Assembly, I will meet leaders of major global technology companies to expand collaboration for the benefit of our creators,” the President said.
“This includes integrating M-PESA into Facebook’s payment system to make payouts faster, easier, and more accessible.”
Ruto emphasized that such initiatives are aimed not only at benefiting artists but also at micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) selling their products online.
“I will also ask Google to enable Kenyans to purchase adverts via M-PESA, a change that will benefit both creatives and MSMEs, creating a win-win situation for Kenya and for YouTube, which will enjoy more transactions on its platform,” He added.
Ruto explained that these measures are part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the digital economy and ensure that Kenyan content creators can earn directly from their work.
He noted that since 2022, when only four African countries were monetized on Facebook, Kenya was excluded.
“After determined negotiations between the Government of Kenya and the top leadership of Facebook, the company honoured its commitments,” he said.
“Today, Kenya is among the select few countries whose creators are paid for their original content on the platform. We fought hard and we won and we are not stopping.”
Ruto also highlighted that Kenyan creators are now monetizing content on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, which have increased payouts to local producers.
He directed all government ministries, departments and agencies to prioritize digital advertising to grow the country’s digital economy and increase income for creatives.
“The more we advertise online, the higher our content is weighted and the more our creatives will earn. We have no excuse not to advertise online,” he stated.
By integrating global platforms with mobile money, Kenyan users of M-PESA can expect smoother payment processes, faster content monetization and increased opportunities to participate in global online marketplaces.
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