Kenyan YouTubers required to submit KRA PINs as new 5% tax takes effect
By William Muthama, August 29, 2026Kenyan YouTubers will now be required to submit their KRA Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to Google as a new 5 per cent Kenyan tax withholding on YouTube earnings takes effect.
The requirement was communicated to creators through notifications on their AdSense for YouTube accounts from Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The notice states that creators with AdSense accounts based in Kenya must provide their Kenyan PIN by October 1, 2026.
“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 notice reads.
The new requirement means Google will deduct 5 per cent from the finalised YouTube earnings of creators with AdSense accounts based in Kenya and remit the amount as Kenya tax.
5% tax on earnings
Google said the deduction will be made every month from creators’ finalised YouTube earnings.
“Each month, Google will withhold a 5% Kenya tax on finalised YouTube earnings along with any applicable U.S. taxes,” the company said.
The withholding will first apply to September 2026 earnings, which will be paid out in October.
For example, a creator with Ksh100,000 in finalised YouTube earnings would have Ksh5,000 withheld as Kenya tax, leaving Ksh95,000 before any other applicable deduction, including US taxes.
The 5 per cent is therefore a tax withholding and not a fee charged by YouTube for using the platform.
Applicable US taxes may also be withheld, with the amount depending on the creator’s individual circumstances and tax information provided to Google.
Creators share notices
The development comes after Kenyan YouTubers began sharing screenshots of the notification received from Google.
Poet and activist Willie Oeba was among those who shared a screenshot of the message, bringing attention to the new requirement affecting Kenyan creators.
The notice specifically directs creators to provide their Kenyan PIN through AdSense for YouTube before the October 1 deadline.
Google said the information is required to comply with Kenya’s tax laws.
Creators who fail to provide their KRA PIN by the October 1, 2026 deadline could face issues with their AdSense payments, depending on how Google applies the requirement to individual accounts.