About a day after famous American YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, colloquially known as MrBeast, released a now-viral video of how he sunk 52 boreholes in Kenya without tooting his horn, Kenyans have trained their guns on political leaders who do the contrary.
Hours after the viral video went online, Kenyans were swift to compare MrBeast’s silent philanthropy with the tendencies Kenyan leaders have adopted; make noise with intangible work.
In part of the 10-minute video, MrBeast even said that the developments do not necessarily require monstrous funding from the government to be realised.
Some of the areas where he sunk the boreholes include Toroplongon in Keiyo South Constituency, Elgeyo-Marakwet County and Nairiri in Tigania West, Meru County.
He also equipped a school with new computers, updated the classrooms with new furniture, whiteboards, and projectors, installed new bookshelves and gave every student a soccer ball.
“You would think that having an effect of this magnitude would require the resources and funding of a large government but that’s not true. Solving this problem is possible and it’s something humanity should all be putting effort in to fix,” he said.
Hopping on the bandwagon, Kenyans on X (formerly Twitter), did not hold back their censures against the government on how they have been outperformed by a foreigner without even publicizing the projects.
Kenyans questioned why county governments do not develop their areas despite having adequate funding from the national government and end up spending the money on excesses.
A majority fronted the leaders for broadcasting their minuscule projects to the extent of inviting President William Ruto to commission them.
Citizen Digital is in possession of a poster from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation inviting President Ruto to commission a borehole in Kangari Dairy Co-operative, Murang’a County on July 21, 2023.
Boniface Mwangi wrote; “When you see what Mr Beast has done, and here was Ruto commissioning one borehole. First Lady Rachel Ruto has a budget of KSh 593.9 million, and Dorcas Rigathi KSh 717.6 million. That’s 1.3 billion for spouses of Ruto and Rigathi to waste on travel, vehicles and crusades. Shame.”
@nancykeru said “Make us understand how one person comes to Africa to solve our issues. Wells is something the government can easily do but rather they choose to allocate BILLIONS to travel abroad to go benchmark when they can’t provide basic needs for the people. We need to wake up as Africans.”
@mauriceobondo wrote “GoK was, is, and will continue to be an absolute failure. Our Taxes are used to maintain the Lifestyles of Public Officials instead of ensuring that Basic needs are fulfilled.”
@anuarsaddat added “He’s proved that politics is like wind. It belongs to none, and no amount of prayers can turn it into reality! It’s unfortunate that a genuine foreigner can be selfless to that level while elected leaders (demigods) sell promises and engage in foreign tour day and night.”
Others have however censured the YouTuber, arguing that he is exploiting impoverished Kenyans to advance his brand.
