Kwetu eSIM is bringing a more convenient way to stay connected abroad, allowing travellers to purchase and activate travel data before they even board their flight.

The platform offers eSIM connectivity across 190+ countries, meaning travellers can land at their destination and get online without visiting an airport SIM shop or swapping physical SIM cards.

The process is simple: travellers select their destination, purchase a data plan, scan a QR code or enter an activation code, and get connected.

And yes, you can pay with M-Pesa

For Kenyan users, one of the biggest selling points is the ability to pay through M-Pesa using a simple STK Push.

Kwetu eSIM also accepts card payments and other mobile money options, positioning the platform as a travel connectivity solution designed with African travellers in mind.

And if you run out of data while abroad? No panic.

Users can top up their eSIM directly through the app without having to reinstall or replace anything.

Travelling with friends or family is also covered. Kwetu allows users to purchase an eSIM as a gift and send it to another traveller before their trip.

The service works on both iPhone and Android and supports multiple languages, making it accessible to travellers from different markets.

As international travel continues to grow for holidays, business and education, travel eSIMs are increasingly becoming an alternative to expensive roaming charges and the hassle of buying local SIM cards.

For Kenyan travellers, the biggest attraction may simply be the convenience.

No queue at the airport.

No searching for Wi-Fi.

No tiny SIM card to lose.

No roaming shock.

Just land, switch on your data and go.

The Kwetu eSIM app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, while travel plans can also be purchased through kwetuesim.

The national championship concluded on Saturday, August 22, at Mwai Kibaki Hall, Mount Kenya University (MKU) following two days of intense competition involving 16 of Kenya’s leading PUBG MOBILE teams.

RESCUE Esports emerged victorious after battling some of the country’s strongest competitive gaming teams, with RUSH Esports finishing second and No Pressure securing third position.

The final standings saw RESCUE Esports take gold, RUSH Esports silver and No Pressure bronze.

But the competition in Nairobi was about much more than securing the Kenyan title.

Top Three Teams Head to Africa Regional Final

Following their performances at the national championship, RESCUE Esports, RUSH Esports and No Pressure have all qualified for the PMGO Africa Regional Final, where they will face some of the continent’s leading PUBG MOBILE teams.

The regional tournament carries a USD 14,000 prize pool, giving the Kenyan teams an opportunity to compete for prize money, continental recognition and a bigger platform within professional esports.

Their qualification also provides another indication of the rapid development of competitive gaming in Kenya, where esports is increasingly moving from casual entertainment into organised tournaments offering players potential professional careers.

“PUBG MOBILE has always been committed to investing in Africa and supporting its communities. Through professional esports, players are transforming their lives, building careers and stepping onto the world stage,” organisers said.

For RESCUE Esports, the regional final will provide an opportunity to build on its national championship victory and test its players against teams from elsewhere in Africa.

RUSH Esports and No Pressure will similarly carry Kenya’s flag as the country’s representatives seek to demonstrate the growing strength of the local PUBG MOBILE scene.

Infinix Backs Kenya Tournament

Technology company Infinix served as the official sponsor of PMNC Kenya 2026, supporting the staging of the tournament and Kenya’s expanding competitive gaming community.

The partnership brought together technology and esports at a time when competitive mobile gaming is attracting increasing interest among young people across Kenya and the wider African continent.

The championship brought professional players, gaming communities, fans and emerging talent together on a national platform.

The Infinix GT 50 Pro was used as the official gaming phone during the competition.

According to information released following the championship, the device features HydroFlow Liquid Cooling Architecture, a 144FPS gaming ecosystem, Pressure-Sense GT Triggers, an N1 Network Chip and a MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultimate processor.

It also comes with a 6,500mAh battery, 45W fast charging and 30W wireless charging, features designed to support demanding mobile gaming sessions.

Kenya’s Esports Scene Continues to Grow

PMNC Kenya 2026 comes amid increasing recognition of esports as both an entertainment industry and a potential career path for young gamers.

National competitions provide talented players with structured opportunities to compete professionally before progressing to regional and international tournaments.

For Kenya’s three qualifying teams, attention now turns to the PMGO Africa Regional Final.

RESCUE Esports will arrive as Kenya’s national PUBG MOBILE champion, but alongside RUSH Esports and No Pressure, the next objective will be considerably bigger: taking Kenya’s challenge from the national stage to the rest of Africa.

Koech-Kimwatu died at her home in Ngong on Friday, August 21, 2026. Her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and organisations with which she worked during a distinguished career spanning law, technology, public policy and data governance.

However, questions are now emerging over claims that the senior executive had allegedly experienced sustained workplace harassment and pressure from a supervisor before her death.

One online report published following her death says that people described as former colleagues and industry peers had linked her distress to treatment at work, including alleged excessive workloads, criticism and belittlement.

She died by suicide.

This raises serious questions that may warrant clarification and investigation, particularly given growing concern about workplace bullying, psychological safety and the responsibility of employers to protect employees from harassment.

A Respected Data Protection Leader

At the time of her death, Koech-Kimwatu was one of Kenya’s prominent voices on privacy, technology law and responsible data governance.

She joined KCB Bank Group in June 2022 as Data Protection Officer after previously serving as Public Policy Manager at Safaricom PLC. She was promoted to Head of Data Protection in June 2023, taking responsibility for data-protection compliance and governance across the banking group.

Her influence extended far beyond KCB.

The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), where she served as a board trustee, mourned her as an important figure in the advancement of technology policy, internet governance and digital rights.

She had also served as Principal of the Kenya School of Internet Governance and chaired multistakeholder advisory groups associated with the Kenya and East Africa Internet Governance Forums.

The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) similarly paid tribute to Koech-Kimwatu, describing her as a respected voice in promoting responsible use of personal information and strengthening Kenya’s privacy culture.

The Data Privacy and Governance Society of Kenya also remembered her as its founding and first vice president, crediting her with helping build Kenya’s growing community of privacy professionals.

Questions That Should Be Answered

The emergence of allegations concerning Koech-Kimwatu’s workplace experiences means speculation should not be allowed to substitute for evidence.

Any claims of harassment should be investigated fairly, with those making the allegations encouraged to provide evidence to the appropriate authorities or investigators.

Among the questions requiring clarification are whether Koech-Kimwatu ever formally complained about her working environment, whether management or human resources officials received concerns regarding her treatment, and, if complaints existed, what action was taken.

Those questions matter not only because of the senior position Koech-Kimwatu held but because employers have a responsibility to provide professional environments in which workers can raise grievances without fear of retaliation.

At the same time, it would be unfair to attribute responsibility for her death to an individual without evidence and a proper investigation.

Her family has asked the public to remember her children and loved ones as they mourn her loss.

As tributes continue to pour in, Koech-Kimwatu will be remembered as a lawyer, technology policy specialist and privacy advocate whose work helped shape Kenya’s rapidly developing data-protection landscape.

Her death is a profound loss to that community.

The latest milestone came on August 19, 2026, when the hospital performed what it described as East Africa’s first robotic-assisted gallbladder removal surgery, demonstrating how technology is moving beyond highly specialised operations into established general surgical procedures.

The development is significant for a region that has historically struggled not only with access to surgery but also with shortages of specialist medical personnel.

Robotic-assisted surgery does not mean that a robot independently operates on a patient. Instead, the surgeon remains in control throughout the procedure while using a robotic system that provides enhanced visualisation, precision and movement.

The technology gives surgeons a three-dimensional view of the operating area and instruments capable of a greater range of movement than conventional laparoscopic equipment. This can be particularly valuable when operating in confined or difficult-to-reach areas of the body.

A New Chapter for Surgery in East Africa

For years, the major conversation around surgery in East Africa has centred on increasing the number of people who can access safe operations.

That challenge remains.

The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery established a benchmark of about 5,000 surgical procedures per 100,000 people annually, but historical assessments have placed Eastern sub-Saharan Africa well below that target.

The emergence of robotic surgery therefore represents another dimension of the region’s healthcare development: improving not only the availability of surgery but also its sophistication.

Kenya has increasingly attracted patients from neighbouring countries seeking specialist treatment, strengthening Nairobi’s position as a regional medical referral centre.

However, the country’s specialist workforce remains a major challenge. Previous estimates have put Kenya’s number of surgeons, anaesthetists and obstetricians at about 2.35 per 100,000 people, against the recommended benchmark of 20 per 100,000.

Robotics cannot solve that shortage.

What it can potentially do is provide existing specialists with better tools to perform difficult procedures with greater precision and control.

Why the Gallbladder Operation Matters

Gallbladder removal is one of the clearest examples of how robotic technology could become part of mainstream surgical care.

Known medically as a cholecystectomy, the operation can be performed through traditional open surgery or minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques.

The robotic-assisted procedure builds on keyhole surgery by giving the surgeon enhanced visualisation and greater freedom of movement while working through small incisions.

That distinction matters because the August 19 procedure at Aga Khan University Hospital was not simply a demonstration of futuristic technology. It involved applying robotics to a well-established general surgical operation.

For patients, the important question is ultimately not how sophisticated the equipment looks but whether it contributes to safer procedures and better recovery.

Minimally invasive surgery is associated with benefits that can include smaller incisions, reduced post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery compared with open surgery.

Robotic assistance seeks to preserve those advantages while improving the surgeon’s control during technically demanding procedures.

Robotics Moving Beyond One Specialty

The potential use of robotic-assisted surgery also extends well beyond gallbladder operations.

At Aga Khan University Hospital, the technology is being developed across several areas, including urology and prostate surgery, pelvic procedures, gynaecology, paediatric surgery and orthopaedics.

That range suggests robotic technology could increasingly function as a common surgical platform serving different medical specialties rather than remaining restricted to a small number of procedures.

For Kenya, the implications could be considerable.

Expanding advanced surgical capabilities locally could reduce the need for some patients to travel outside the region for specialised procedures while potentially attracting more patients from neighbouring countries.

It could also provide opportunities for Kenyan and regional specialists to develop expertise in advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Technology Won’t Replace Surgeons

Despite the term “robotic surgery”, the technology is not designed to remove the doctor from the operating theatre.

The surgeon controls the robotic instruments and makes the clinical decisions throughout the procedure.

Its value lies in extending human capability.

Greater visual clarity can help surgeons identify structures more accurately, while highly flexible instruments can assist with precise movements and delicate tasks such as stitching in confined spaces.

The technology could therefore prove particularly useful in procedures where access and precision are critical.

But its success will depend heavily on the people operating it.

Hospitals adopting robotic systems must invest not only in equipment but also in training surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre nurses and technical teams capable of supporting the technology.

Cost and Access Remain Major Questions

The arrival of robotic surgery also raises an important question for East Africa: who will be able to access it?

Historical estimates have indicated that more than 95 per cent of people in Eastern sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to surgical care that simultaneously met standards of safety, timeliness and affordability.

Robotic systems require considerable investment in equipment, maintenance, infrastructure and specialist training.

Hospitals will consequently face the challenge of ensuring technological advancement does not create an even wider divide between patients able to afford sophisticated treatment and those still struggling to access basic surgery.

The long-term success of robotics in East Africa may therefore depend as much on financing and training models as on the machines themselves.

If hospitals can increase the number of specialists trained to use the technology, spread its application across different procedures and develop sustainable ways of financing treatment, robotic-assisted surgery could become an increasingly important part of the region’s healthcare system.

For now, Aga Khan University Hospital’s robotic-assisted gallbladder operation provides a glimpse of that future.

It signals a shift in East African healthcare from a conversation centred almost entirely on expanding surgical access towards one that increasingly includes precision, minimally invasive treatment and advanced medical technology.

The robot may attract the attention, but the bigger transformation is what it allows surgeons to do: operate with greater visibility, movement and precision while bringing increasingly sophisticated treatment closer to patients in the region.

Here’s everything you need to know — from downloading the app to buying, installing, gifting and managing your eSIM.

📲 Step 1: Download the Kwetu eSIM App

Getting started is easy.

The quickest option is to visit kwetuesim.com/download. You’ll automatically be redirected to the right app store depending on the phone you’re using.

You can also search for Kwetu eSIM directly on:

* Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kwetu-esim/id6789627153

* Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.kwetuesim&hl=en

* Huawei AppGallery: https://appgallery.huawei.com/app/C118267379

Once you’ve downloaded the app, create your account using your email, Google Account, Apple Account (for iOS users), or Yahoo Account.

And just like that, you’re ready to start exploring! ✈️

🌍 Step 2: Choose Your Destination & Buy an eSIM

Heading to South Africa? Tanzania? France? Wherever your next adventure takes you, finding a bundle is simple.

1. Search for your destination

Type the country you’re visiting — for example, South Africa.

You can also search by city or location. For example, searching Cape Town and Kwetu eSIM will show you the available South Africa options.

2. Pick your bundle

Browse the available bundles and choose the one that works best for your trip.

You’ll find different options, including:

Fixed-data bundles — for example, 5GB. These work until you use up the purchased data.

Unlimited bundles — these allow continued usage but may be subject to a Fair Usage Policy and speed throttling.

For example, with a 3GB/day Unlimited bundle, you can use up to 3GB at full speed during the day. Once you reach that limit, your speed may be throttled to 2Mbps, with the allowance resetting the next day.

💡 Travel tip: If you’re mostly using WhatsApp, Google Maps, email and social media, a smaller bundle may be enough. If you’ll be streaming, uploading lots of videos or working remotely, consider a larger or Unlimited bundle.

3. Check the details

Found a bundle you like? Tap on it to see more information, including:

* 📶 Available network

* ⚡ Connection speeds

* 📊 Data allowance

* 📜 Fair Usage Policy for Unlimited bundles

* 💰 Price

Make sure you check these details before purchasing so you know exactly what you’re getting.

4. Pay and you’re good to go!

 Tap Pay at the bottom of the screen and select your preferred payment method.

Kwetu eSIM currently supports card and M-Pesa payments, with more payment options coming soon.

You can also choose to gift the eSIM to someone else — perfect if you’re helping a friend, family member or travel companion get connected.

Once your payment is successful, the eSIM will be assigned to the relevant account.

Important: Paying for the eSIM does not automatically install it on your phone. You’ll need to install it separately.

📡 Step 3: Install Your eSIM

Bought your bundle? Time to get connected!

1. Go to My eSIMs in the Kwetu eSIM app.
2. You’ll see all your purchased eSIMs and their current statuses.
3. Select the eSIM you want to install.
4. View the eSIM details and tap Install eSIM.
5. Kwetu eSIM will take you to the appropriate installation process for your device.
6. Follow the instructions on your screen.

Once installation is complete, you’re ready to connect when your trip begins. 🌍📶

🎨 Step 4: Understanding Your eSIM Status

Not sure whether your eSIM is ready, active or finished?

The colour of your eSIM makes it easy to tell what’s happening.

 🟡 Yellow — Ready to Install

Your eSIM has been purchased and is waiting to be installed.

🟢 Green — Installed & Active

Your eSIM is installed and currently active.

🔴 Red — Almost Ending or Ended

Your eSIM is approaching the end of its validity or has already ended. Depending on its status, you may be able to top it up.

Kwetu eSIM is seeking to eliminate that inconvenience by allowing travellers to purchase and set up mobile data before leaving home. The digital connectivity platform provides travel eSIM plans covering more than 190 destinations worldwide, allowing users to arrive in another country with their mobile data arrangements already sorted.

Instead of purchasing a physical SIM card at the destination, travellers with compatible smartphones can choose a data package online, install the eSIM using a QR code or activation details and activate the plan when required. Because the eSIM is digital, users do not have to remove their normal physical SIM card simply to access travel data.

Buy Your Travel Data Before Boarding the Plane

One of the biggest advantages of the service is the ability to prepare for a trip in advance. Through the Kwetu eSIM travel platform, travellers can select their destination and purchase an appropriate data plan before departure.

This means a Kenyan travelling to Dubai, London, Paris, Johannesburg, New York or another international destination does not necessarily have to begin searching for a mobile network provider immediately after clearing immigration.

For business travellers in particular, immediate connectivity can be important. Messages, emails, ride-hailing applications, online maps, hotel reservations and digital payment services increasingly require an internet connection. Having travel data arranged beforehand can therefore make the transition from the airport to the destination considerably smoother.

M-Pesa Gives Kwetu a Strong Kenyan and African Advantage

Kwetu’s approach is particularly relevant to African travellers because it combines international connectivity with payment methods that are already familiar at home.

Users can pay for their travel data through M-Pesa, alongside cards, other mobile-money options and an in-app wallet. This removes some of the payment friction African consumers can encounter when purchasing international digital services.

The ability to pay through M-Pesa could be particularly attractive to Kenyan travellers who prefer mobile money over entering card details online. Travellers can explore the available options directly through the Kwetu eSIM website before beginning their journey.

Prices can also be displayed in a user’s preferred currency, making it easier to understand the actual cost of a package instead of having to calculate unfamiliar foreign-currency prices.

Coverage Across More Than 190 Destinations

Another important selling point is the geographical reach of the service. Kwetu says its eSIM plans cover more than 190 destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Americas and the Middle East.

That makes the platform useful for different categories of travellers, including tourists, business executives, students studying abroad and people making multi-country trips.

The digital nature of the service also means travellers do not have to carry several physical SIM cards when moving between countries. Depending on the selected plan and destination, users can manage their connectivity through their phones rather than repeatedly replacing physical SIM cards.

Travellers planning an international journey can check Kwetu eSIM plans and supported destinations before travelling.

Running Out of Data Doesn’t Mean Starting Again

Running out of mobile data halfway through a trip can be particularly inconvenient. With a traditional travel SIM, obtaining additional data may require visiting a physical outlet or navigating an unfamiliar local mobile network.

Kwetu allows travellers to top up an active eSIM through the platform. Users therefore do not have to reinstall the eSIM simply because their initial data allocation has been exhausted.

This could prove useful for travellers whose usage changes unexpectedly. Someone who initially purchases data mainly for WhatsApp and navigation, for example, may later need considerably more data for video calls, remote work or uploading photos and videos.

The ability to manage and top up travel data through Kwetu eSIM means users can increase their connectivity while already abroad rather than searching for another SIM card.

Travellers Can Also Gift an eSIM

Kwetu has also incorporated an eSIM gifting feature, allowing customers to purchase connectivity for another traveller.

A parent could arrange data for a child travelling abroad, a company could purchase connectivity for an employee heading on an overseas assignment, or someone in Kenya could provide an eSIM to a relative preparing for an international trip.

The recipient can then install the digital SIM on a compatible device and use it at their destination. The Kwetu eSIM gifting option effectively turns mobile data into something that can be arranged for another person before they travel.

Why eSIM Technology Is Becoming Important for Travellers

International travel has become increasingly dependent on smartphones. Boarding passes, accommodation bookings, navigation, translation, ride-hailing services, banking applications and communication with family are now routinely handled through mobile devices.

That makes internet connectivity less of a luxury and more of a basic travel requirement.

The traditional model of landing at an airport and immediately searching for a physical SIM card increasingly looks unnecessary for travellers whose phones support eSIM technology. Digital SIMs allow connectivity to be installed electronically while potentially leaving the traveller’s existing SIM available for calls, texts or other services.

Before purchasing, however, travellers should confirm that their smartphone supports eSIM technology and check the applicable plan’s coverage, validity period and data allowance.

A Travel Connectivity Product Built With Africans in Mind

The significance of Kwetu is not simply that it sells eSIMs. Several international companies already operate in the global eSIM market. Its more distinctive proposition is combining global travel connectivity with features designed around African payment habits and consumers.

M-Pesa integration is an obvious example. For a Kenyan traveller accustomed to paying for services through an STK Push, being able to purchase international mobile data through a familiar payment ecosystem can make the process considerably easier.

The name “Kwetu,” meaning “home” in Swahili, also gives the platform an unmistakably African identity in an industry dominated largely by international technology brands.

For travellers who would rather spend their first minutes abroad collecting luggage and heading to their hotel than comparing SIM cards at an airport kiosk, the proposition is straightforward: buy the data before the journey, install the eSIM and land ready to connect.

Kwetu eSIM is available for compatible iOS and Android devices, while travellers can browse destinations, packages and other information through the official Kwetu eSIM website.

Imagine landing in a new country and your internet is already working before you even leave the airport.

No hunting for Wi-Fi. No buying a local SIM card. No paying crazy roaming charges.

That’s exactly what Kwetu eSIM is bringing to travellers.

The new app lets anyone buy travel data before they fly and activate it in under a minute. There are no physical SIM cards to swap, no tiny SIM tools to carry around, and no queues at airport shops.

Simply choose your destination, pay, scan a QR code (or enter a code), and you’re online in 190+ countries.

What makes Kwetu even more exciting for Kenyans is that you can pay using M-Pesa through a simple STK Push. The platform also accepts cards and other mobile money payment options, making it one of the few travel eSIM services built with African users in mind.

Forgot to buy data before travelling? Need more while abroad? No problem. You can top up your eSIM instantly from the app without reinstalling anything.

Travelling with family or friends? You can even buy an eSIM as a gift and send it to them before they travel.

Kwetu eSIM works on both iPhone and Android and supports multiple languages, making it easy for travellers around the world.

With more people travelling for business, holidays and school, Kwetu is positioning itself as a smarter alternative to expensive roaming and the hassle of buying local SIM cards.

No SIM card. No roaming stress. Just land and connect.

‍The Kwetu eSIM app is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, while travel plans can also be purchased through kwetuesim.com.

In his remarks delivered by the Director of Public Complaints, Mr. Bernard Nyakwaka, the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mr. Mohamed I. Amin, congratulated the officers on their successful selection following a rigorous recruitment and vetting process, and urged them to anchor their conduct in integrity as they prepare to confront the evolving threat of narcotics trafficking and transnational organized crime.

“Build and guard your integrity from the outset. It is the cornerstone of your credibility as an investigator and the foundation upon which the public’s trust in this Directorate rests,” said Amin.

The Director, Narcotics Investigations Bureau, Mr. Samuel Laboso, noted that running Cohorts IV and V together reflects the growing demand for trained narcotics investigators across the country, and challenged the participants to remain committed throughout the course.

“Two cohorts training side by side means we are scaling up the Bureau’s capacity to match the pace at which trafficking networks are adapting. What you learn here will directly determine how effectively we disrupt those networks,” said Laboso.

The Commandant, NCIA, Mr. Ibrahim Jillo, reaffirmed the Academy’s commitment to delivering competency-based training that develops investigators with the technical capability, professionalism and integrity required in modern law enforcement.

“Bringing two cohorts through this course concurrently is a deliberate investment in the Bureau’s readiness. I urge each of you to take this seriously, not only for your own growth but for the strength it adds to the wider narcotics investigations function,” said Jillo.

The course forms part of NCIA’s mandate to build a pipeline of skilled, professional investigators equipped to respond to Kenya’s evolving crime landscape. Participants will undergo instruction combining classroom-based learning with hands-on casework simulations, sharpening the practical skills required for real-world narcotics investigations.

Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi has told Kalemba that the artiste sustained injuries yesterday while cash and other valuables were stolen after thugs stormed a Campaign rally for an independent candidate in Shibunji District.

The incident happened in Nampeya Ward, Munyati Area during a rally addressed by independent aspiring member of Parliament, Ibrahim Kabwe Mwamba, independent Council Chairperson, Mutumba Denise and general Kanene.

Chilabi said Preliminary investigations indicate that a Toyota Land Cruiser carrying criminals armed with machetes, arrived at the scene and disrupted the gathering.

Chilabi said they allegedly assaulted Dimba, inflicting a cut to his head and damaged a Mitsubishi Triton (registration number BAZ 5004) belonging to Mwamba.

“They also allegedly stole an HP ProBook laptop, two mobile phones, and K16,000 in cash. The value of the other damaged property is still being assessed,” he said.

Police officers responded immediately and visited the scene and one machete was recovered from the scene and has been retained as an exhibit.

Dimba was taken to Westwood Police Station, where he was issued a medical report before being referred to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), where he was admitted.

Chilabi further said that Investigations are ongoing, and dockets have been opened for Aggravated Robbery, Unlawful Wounding, and Malicious Damage to Property.

He added that this matter is being treated as a serious criminal offence, and all those involved will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of Zambia.

“Further updates will be provided as investigations progress,” he said.

The Zambia Police Service is strongly condemning the act of violence and is reminding members of the public and all political stakeholders that violence has no place in a democratic society.

By Elizabeth Muchape

Baha first became a household name across Kenya through his role on Machachari, the long-running Citizen TV production that shaped the childhoods of countless young viewers. (Tuko News) Since the show wrapped, he’s tried to translate that early fame into a career as a digital content creator, building a large following across TikTok and Instagram in the process. His current appeal marks another attempt to relaunch that side of his career, this time centered on his YouTube channel.

The timing of the fundraiser hasn’t gone unnoticed. The appeal comes just weeks after Baha trended online for reasons that cast him in an unflattering light, making his push for financial backing all the more closely watched by fans. (Tuko News) He has also restricted who can comment on the fundraiser posts, a decision that has drawn its own reaction from online observers. (Tuko News)

This isn’t the first time Baha’s financial situation has become a talking point. Back in 2023, he trended after an Instagram user identified as nurse Judy Maina shared a series of stories describing how he’d reached out to her asking for financial help, citing a family eviction and describing himself as an orphan with nowhere else to turn. (BNN) Around the same period, another social media user publicly claimed Baha owed him money and had been slow to repay it, fueling further online speculation about his finances. (BNN)

More recently, reports circulated alleging he’d approached people for money while a family member covered his bills — claims that surfaced shortly before he put his social media accounts up for sale. In July, he listed his TikTok account which boasts a following of more than 450,000 for sale, a move that came alongside a string of cryptic Instagram messages about personal boundaries and faith. (Tuko News) That followed a separate viral video controversy that had already put him back in the headlines, after which he broke his silence on Instagram in characteristically guarded fashion. (Mpasho)

Unsurprisingly, the fresh fundraiser has split opinion online. Some fans appear ready to back the young creator, pointing to his history on Machachari and hoping to see him bounce back with fresh content. Others are more skeptical, referencing the string of controversies and financial appeals that have followed him for years, and questioning whether this latest campaign will actually go toward equipment or something else entirely.

Whether the goodwill translates into real donations remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Tyler Mbaya remains one of Kenya’s most talked-about former child stars, with every move  from a fundraiser to a cryptic Instagram post sparking conversation among fans and critics alike. For now, all eyes are on whether Budah in Shawt actually returns to screens, and whether this chapter marks a genuine turnaround or simply another twist in an already eventful year for the actor-turned-content-creator.

As it stands, the story is still developing, and reactions from both supporters and doubters continue to pour in across TikTok, Instagram, and X. Whether Baha’s next content drop will be the comeback fans are hoping for or fuel for more online scrutiny  is a question only time (and his next upload) will answer.