When Eli Mwenda landed back in Kenya after years of growing up in the UK, he arrived with a unique contradiction: he felt like a local with an outsider’s lens. Born in Kenya but raised in Britain from the age of two, Eli had seen what thoughtful, well-produced digital content could do—shape conversation, shift culture, and spark movements. But back in Nairobi, he sensed a void. Kenyan stories weren’t being told at scale, especially those of men navigating emotion, identity, and modern life.
So he decided to build the very thing he couldn’t find.
And when Sauti Sol’s Bien or digital trailblazers like Sheila Ndinda joined Mantalk’s table, it was clear: podcasting in Kenya was no longer fringe. It was the future. And Eli had helped build its foundation.
From Cultural Tug-of-War to Cultural Tuning Fork
Before microphones and spotlight moments, there were long, honest conversations at home. Eli had to first convince his Kenyan parents that becoming a content creator was not just viable—it was visionary.
“I had to pitch to my parents and explain in depth why I wanted to go into content creation.”
This initial negotiation—a balancing act between generational expectations and modern possibility—is familiar to many second-generation Kenyans. But for Eli, it became a quiet source of power. His British upbringing had exposed him to polished, high-value media, while his Kenyan roots gave him the cultural fluency to make that media relevant back home.
He noticed a crucial gap: Kenyan men weren’t being invited to speak openly about their lives. Emotional expression was taboo, mental health was ignored, and vulnerability was sidelined. So in 2019, alongside lawyer and co-host Oscar Koome, Mantalk.ke was born.
Mantalk.ke: Where Kenyan Men Found Their Voices
Mantalk.ke didn’t start with celebrity guests or six-figure sponsors. It started with purpose. Eli and Oscar wanted to create a safe, intelligent, and unapologetically Kenyan space where men could be complex—funny, flawed, emotional, reflective.
They took on the hard topics: toxic masculinity, fatherhood, heartbreak, ambition, depression. Their conversations echoed around the country. One viewer called it “the first time I saw a man cry on a Kenyan platform and not be mocked for it.”
What made them different?
- They understood platforms: using long-form YouTube episodes for depth, snappy TikTok clips for virality, and Instagram Lives for real-time community.
- They stayed rooted: never abandoning Swahili slang, Nairobi realism, or Kenyan humor.
- They invited the audience in: creating events like “Toxic Thursday” Lives, which became digital fire pits for collective storytelling.
By 2024, their podcast was pulling in over 100,000 monthly Spotify plays, averaging 306,500 views per YouTube video—outpacing even some of Kenya’s oldest media institutions.
Turning Purpose Into Profit, Without Selling Out
Success, however, didn’t come cheap. Eli and Oscar bootstrapped their early episodes, often recording with borrowed gear and out-of-pocket funds.
“We always joke… if we wanted to be rich, we wouldn’t podcast, we’d be farmers.”
But they weren’t just creating content—they were building a business. Their model was layered:
- Sponsored Segments: Eli chose to only work with brands that matched their ethos. Think Johnnie Walker’s “Keep Walking” campaign or Safaricom’s youth initiatives—not just any corporate name willing to write a cheque.
- Platform Diversification: Each channel had its own revenue strategy, from YouTube AdSense to TikTok brand challenges.
- Future Monetization: With plans for Kenyan-themed merchandise and intellectual property rooted in local culture, they were positioning themselves not just as podcasters—but as architects of a Kenyan content economy.
From Microphone to Movement: Advocating for Kenya’s Creators
While many would stop at success, Eli leaned into something deeper: advocacy.
In 2024, frustrated by brand negotiations, he conducted a survey of over 200 Kenyan creators. The results? Eye-opening. Kenyan influencers were being paid 50% less than their UK counterparts—even when they had bigger audiences.
He made those numbers public. It sent shockwaves through the industry, sparking a reckoning about pricing transparency, respect, and value.
He also called for infrastructure—not just more podcasts, but more studios, editors, and creative spaces that could support Kenya’s booming digital youth.
“We need locations where youth can shoot videos… there’s not enough money for editors to make a living.”
As a mentor, he championed the idea that all you need to start is a tripod, a phone, and a voice that’s true to your experience. It was an open invitation—especially to young Kenyans who felt unseen.
Reshaping an Industry, One Honest Conversation at a Time
Mantalk.ke didn’t just grow an audience—it shifted national habits. Odipo Dev’s research showed that young Kenyans now preferred podcasts over radio, especially men aged 25–34. Mainstream media took notice, with executives admitting that video podcasts had become their most authentic client-facing tools.
And when Sauti Sol’s Bien or digital trailblazers like Sheila Ndinda joined Mantalk’s table, it was clear: podcasting in Kenya was no longer fringe. It was the future. And Eli had helped build its foundation.
What Belonging Sounds Like
In the end, Eli Mwenda’s story is not just about podcast metrics or platform wins. It’s about what happens when someone takes everything they’ve been given across two cultures—the polish of the UK, the soul of Kenya—and creates something new, rooted, and real.
“We sell time, but we build community.”
That’s what Eli has done. He’s created a mirror where Kenyan men can see themselves clearly. He’s built a bridge for second-generation Kenyans who want to come home but don’t know how. And he’s reminded an entire industry that Kenya’s stories don’t need to imitate—they need to belong.
In a global moment craving authenticity, Eli Mwenda has shown that the Kenyan voice—unfiltered, unashamed, and unforgettable—belongs at the center.
