Embu town came to a standstill on Sunday as thousands of TikTokers thronged the streets in a show of solidarity and compassion for popular content creator Mama Gift.
The usually calm town echoed with the sounds of honking vehicles, whistles, vuvuzelas, and cheering crowds as convoys of boda bodas, matatus, and private cars made their way to Gathoge village for a thanksgiving visit.
Mama Gift, a single mother, has gained widespread admiration for documenting her daily struggles caring for her son, who suffers from severe cerebral palsy, chronic asthma, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal complications, and convulsions. Her raw and emotional videos have touched millions online, inspiring an outpouring of support from Kenyans.
The movement mirrors the earlier online wave that rallied behind Kaluma Boy, real name Vincent Kagwi, who moved Kenyans by sharing his story of caring for his ailing father.
That campaign culminated in a grand thanksgiving at Bishop Muthee Kiengei’s JCM Church, where the family received gifts worth millions of shillings. Aside from multiple brand deals, Kaluma boy also got a sponsorship to University, and his father moved to specialized care.
Following the success of that initiative, TikTokers, led by Bishop Kiengei, pledged their next act of generosity to Mama Gift. Sunday’s gathering drew massive crowds, reflecting the growing influence of social media in uniting Kenyans behind acts of compassion.
Police briefly redirected traffic in Embu town as the convoy passed, while locals lined the streets to witness the extraordinary display of digital-era philanthropy.
