NAIROBI, Kenya — A Russian national identified as Yaytseslav Trahov has stirred controversy online after videos showing him filming intimate encounters with women in Kenya and other African countries resurfaced and went viral on social media platforms.
In the clips, the man is seen approaching women in public places, including streets, malls, beaches and restaurants, engaging them in casual conversation and inviting them to join him, often culminating in private encounters that were then recorded.
While short snippets circulated freely on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, investigators and online users say the full-length videos were reportedly shared on a subscription-based Telegram channel, where users paid a monthly fee for access to more content.
How He Filmed the Videos
Speculation about his methods centres on the use of smart glasses resembling Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, wearable technology equipped with discreet cameras capable of capturing photos and video without drawing attention.
A tech expert described how these devices can record high-resolution content while appearing like ordinary sunglasses.
Trahov reportedly met and filmed women across several Kenyan coastal towns, including Mtwapa, Nyali, Shanzu, Bamburi and Diani, as well as in Nairobi and other urban centres, before moving on to other countries where similar videos emerged.
Reaction and Online Backlash
The resurfaced recordings have sparked intense debate among Kenyans online, many condemning the practice as exploitative and a violation of privacy.
Some have criticised not only the man’s conduct but also the wider trend of recording and monetising intimate interactions without clear consent.
“We can debate ethics, morality and safety. But those debates must not erase the principle of consent,” Ferdinand Omondi, a Nairobi-based journalist, said in a statement on X.
Others argue that economic hardship and the allure of foreign visitors may have influenced some women’s willingness to participate in the recordings.
Guys.A foreigner travels to African countries, engages in consensual sex with women, secretly records them, and then publishes the videos online.The sex was consensual. The recording and distribution were not. That is sexual exploitation.What’s troubling is that instead of
Legal and Ethical Concerns
In Kenya, secretly recording individuals without their consent, particularly in intimate contexts, can raise serious legal and ethical questions.
Laws such as the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act criminalise unlawful interception and sharing of private data, but enforcement can be slow and victims often find limited recourse.
Experts have noted that sharing intimate content without permission, even online, can constitute cybercrime and lead to fines or imprisonment.
So far, there has been no official statement from Kenyan authorities regarding an investigation into the Russian national’s actions, though calls for scrutiny and prosecution have been growing as the videos continue to circulate.
The controversy underscores broader concerns about digital privacy, cross-border social media content sharing, and the need for stronger protections against non-consensual recording and distribution of personal videos in Kenya and across the continent.
This isn’t travel content, it’s predatory behavior dressed up as vlogging. He is using African women as trophies for clicks.
