The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) has officially opened submissions for the 10th anniversary edition of the BAKE Awards, at a time when Kenya’s digital content industry is experiencing unprecedented growth.
According to research by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Baraza Media Lab, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and UNESCO, the digital content industry is now valued at approximately Ksh 1.27 trillion (USD 9.8 billion)—highlighting just how important online creators have become to the country’s economy.
The 2026 BAKE Awards return to their traditional January-to-June calendar after last year’s late-season schedule. This year’s theme, “The Creator Economy: Turning Content into Capital,” focuses on creators who have moved beyond content as a hobby to building sustainable digital businesses.
BAKE Chairperson Kennedy Kachwanya said digital media should no longer be seen as a pastime, but as a serious industry creating jobs, driving innovation and positioning Kenya as a continental leader in digital entrepreneurship.
As the awards mark a decade of celebrating Kenyan digital talent, creators across blogging, TikTok, YouTube, podcasting and other platforms are encouraged to submit their work. The organisers say the predictable annual schedule will allow creators and audiences to engage more consistently with the awards.
Last year’s BAKE Awards, concluded on December 13, saw intense competition, including the first-ever tie for Creator of the Year between the JoyRide Podcast and Sarah Njoroge—evidence of the growing quality and diversity of Kenyan content.
Submissions for the 2026 awards run from January 12 to March 2, with public voting set for April 6 to May 29, and the winners’ gala scheduled for June 6, 2026.
We’d love your support. If you enjoy our work here at NewstrendsKE, please consider nominating us for the BAKE Awards 2026. Your nomination helps spotlight independent digital journalism and keeps quality Kenyan stories alive.
To nominate and submit entries, visit bakeawards.co.ke/submit.