Kenyan YouTube content creators have raised concerns over a new 5 per cent withholding tax that Google is set to deduct from their earnings beginning next month.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

On Friday, August 28, Google notified creators using AdSense for YouTube that they must submit their Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) before the new tax takes effect.

In a notification seen by  Kenyans.co.ke , the new withholding will first apply to September 2026 earnings, which will be paid out in October, meaning creators will begin feeling the impact of the deduction from their next eligible payments.

“This email is to inform you that you need to provide your Kenyan personal identification number (PIN) in AdSense for YouTube by October 1, 2026,” Google stated in a notice reportedly sent to a Kenyan content creator.

📌 What You Need to Know

According to the notification, Google said the move was necessary to comply with Kenya's tax laws, specifically under the Income Tax Act.

“Under the Kenya Income Tax Act, Google is required to withhold taxes on YouTube earnings paid to AdSense for YouTube accounts based in Kenya,” the company stated.

“Each month, Google will withhold a 5 per cent Kenyan tax on finalised YouTube earnings along with any applicable U.S. taxes,” Google added.

For instance, a creator whose finalised YouTube earnings amount to Ksh100,000 would have Ksh5,000 withheld as the 5 per cent Kenyan tax, leaving Ksh95,000 before any other deductions.

The announcement has since sparked concern among creators, with some questioning the impact the deduction will have on their incomes, particularly those who depend on YouTube revenue as their main source of livelihood.

One content creator took to social media to criticise the move, arguing that the government had failed to provide sufficient support for the country's growing digital creative industry.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke