A touching show of solidarity unfolded in Othaya, Nyeri County, on Sunday after thousands of Kenyans travelled to visit popular TikToker Kaluma Boy, who has been caring for his ailing father.
Kaluma Boy went viral after sharing emotional clips documenting his journey of looking after his father, who suffered a stroke and slipped into a three-month coma in 2024.
A Journey of Compassion
Images seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed crowds arriving in hired matatus and bodabodas, filling Othaya Town before proceeding to Kaluma’s rural home in Chinga.
The gathering, dubbed a healing and restoration event, was planned online for weeks and brought together thousands who had earlier contributed funds through a paybill number to help offset the father’s medical expenses.
Kaluma Boy, who boasts over 259,000 TikTok followers, has built a loyal community that not only enjoys his content but also treats his father with deep affection — often referring to him simply as “dad.”
The Struggles Behind the Smiles
Speaking during one of his livestreams, Kaluma revealed that his father has been unwell for more than a year.
“My father got sick in August last year, went into a coma for three months, and was discharged in December. He is improving, but it still feels like he is in a hospital ward, only now at home,” he said.
The young TikToker has openly shared the challenges of caring for his father, including expensive therapies and frequent catheter changes, sometimes costing up to KSh 1,000 per day.
“Please support us. If we could get him into a facility where he can receive regular therapy sessions, his recovery would be faster. At home, it’s a bit difficult,” Kaluma appealed.
Online Support Turns to Real-Life Solidarity
What began as online empathy has now transformed into real-life action, with Kenyans rallying around Kaluma Boy and his father.
Sunday’s mass visit symbolized not only financial support but also emotional encouragement, proving how digital platforms can create powerful communities of care.
