Every Monday and Friday, a boda boda operator arrives at the Globe cinema roundabout to the hoots and cheers of the street families who live there.

John Ndichu Wambui, 31, is neither a politician nor a populist and has no political ambitions.

He’s no ordinary boda boda rider either. He has religiously fed these families twice a week for three years.

It doesn’t stop there. It also pays the tuition fees of four high school studentsteeth, reunited 45 street children with their families, paid rent for six young mothers, and opened small businesses for three reformed street boys.

Wambui is an orphan who has dedicated his life to bringing smiles to poor families through fundraising on social media.

Known as Kahii Ga Cucu (a son of his grandmother) on TikTok where he has around 365,000 followers, Ndichu has earned the trust and enthusiastic support of his fans.

Their confidence in him and his cause allowed him to raise 10,000 shillings to provide two days of meals per week.

“I was orphaned at ten years oldage. My grandmother could barely meet her basic needs. My difficult upbringing motivates me to help others. It satisfies my soul,” Wambui said.

The philanthropist who does boda boda business in Kikuyu-Zambezi-Nderi area of ​​Kiambu County is a social media darling.

He hosts live sessions to report on donations received and mobilize more resources.

“Honesty is key. I account for every piece received from my online supporters,” Wambui said.

This is how I have managed to stay relevant over the past three years. Online feedback is quick and a slight mistake can permanently erode trust.

He is grateful for the growth of social media in Kenya, saying he faced many obstacles getting started as he was only dependent on savings from his boda boda business.

Latest government data shows that Kenya has more than 15 million social media users, about 26.5 percent of the total population.

It ranks TikTok as one of Kenya’s most popular social media platforms.

According to official figures from Byte Dance, around 10.6 million Kenyans aged 18 and above use the Chinese platform.

24-hour live streaming has been popular in Asia and the United States for some time.

The TitTok algorithm and live features push more niche streamers in front of more eyeballs and don’t just favor celebrities and influencers.

Although he joined TikTok late, Wambui has mastered the art of fundraising on the platform where contributors offer cash or send gifts that can be converted into cash.

TikTok Gifts are virtual tokens that viewers purchase when watching live streams and scrolling through posts. Users buy them with TikTok Coins, which are part of the app’s thriving virtual currency system.

The price of one TikTok coin is equal to 1.4 cents (approximately 14 shillings).

When viewers send gifts, they are not only personally thanking their favorite creators but also contributing to their hero’s success on the platform.

Once received, gifts turn into diamonds, which are displayed for users to see on creator profiles.

These diamonds have real monetary value and can be withdrawn in cash. Wambui’s efforts to improve the lives of the less privileged and break the stereotype of boda boda operators led to him being named by the online community as the Star newspaper’s Personality of the Year.

This is a prestigious recognition for individuals who have made a positive impact on their community or the nation.