In the wake of Shalkido’s tragic death, Kenyan content creator Baba Talisha has taken to social media to criticize celebrities sharing private messages and screenshots with the late Sailors Gang member, accusing them of seeking clout rather than showing genuine grief.
Shalkido, who rose to fame as part of the Gengetone group Sailors Gang, passed away following a road accident that has since drawn an outpouring of emotion from fans and fellow artists.
As tributes filled timelines, several public figures began posting alleged private conversations they had with him — a trend that quickly drew mixed reactions online.
Baba Talisha, known for his involvement in high-profile online charity efforts and his outspoken commentary on influencer culture, expressed disappointment on his Facebook page, calling the posts “insensitive and opportunistic.”
“Screenshots don’t prove love; they expose guilt,” he wrote. “You ignored his messages; now you’re using them for clout. Let him rest in peace.”
He went on to question why many of the same people sharing Shalkido’s messages online had been silent during his struggles.
“You never showed up for him in life, but now your DMs are trending. The same people who never replied are posting chats to look relevant. Shame on you,” he added.
Among those mentioned in public reactions to Baba Talisha’s post were musician Bahati and blogger Esther Baumbach, both of whom shared screenshots of their conversations with the late rapper. Bahati’s post showed Shalkido reaching out about a possible collaboration, while Baumbach revealed messages in which Shalkido had expressed gratitude and asked for her WhatsApp contact.
Though neither has directly responded to Baba Talisha’s remarks, social media users have echoed his sentiments, criticizing what they see as the normalization of “grief chasing” — the act of using a tragedy to gain visibility online.
“People need to learn that mourning someone doesn’t mean exposing their private messages,” one X user wrote. “Shalkido deserved dignity, not screenshots.”
Shalkido, born Sammy Kioko, was one of the founding members of Sailors Gang, the hitmaking Gengetone group behind songs such as Wamlambez, Pekejeng, and Wainame. His death has reignited conversations about the mental and emotional toll of fame, the fleeting nature of internet celebrity, and how the entertainment industry treats its young artists.
Baba Talisha’s criticism taps into a broader frustration among fans and creatives who feel that social media mourning has become performative. His comments, though harsh to some, have been praised by others as a necessary call for respect and sincerity in times of loss.
“If you didn’t support him while he was alive, don’t use his death to trend,” one comment under Baba Talisha’s post read.
As fans continue to pay tribute to Shalkido, Baba Talisha’s words serve as a reminder of the fine line between public mourning and personal exploitation — a line increasingly blurred in Kenya’s social media-driven entertainment scene.