President Ruto Donates Sh1 Million to Late Comedian KK Mwenyewe’s Funeral as Nation Mourns Online Sensation
NAIROBI, Kenya— President William Ruto has donated Sh1 million to support funeral arrangements for beloved TikTok comedian Zakaria Kariuki, famously known as KK Mwenyewe, whose sudden death on July 14 sent shockwaves through Kenya’s online creative community.
The contribution was revealed by Senior State House official Dennis Itumbi via his X account, where he praised the President’s gesture and acknowledged other government officials who stepped up in support.
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika chipped in Sh200,000, while Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah and Lari MP Mburu Kahangara also made significant contributions.
KK Mwenyewe, whose comedic impersonations of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made him a household name, died at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital after a short illness.
He was just beginning to solidify his presence in Kenya’s entertainment industry, with 1.1 million followers on TikTok and over 400,000 on Facebook.
The candlelight vigil held by fellow content creators served as both a mourning moment and a rallying cry for the government to consider the financial afterlife of digital creators.
Itumbi raised a critical point — what happens to monetized social media accounts when a creator passes on?
As Kenya’s creator economy grows, KK Mwenyewe’s passing has brought attention not just to the emotional toll of losing such talent, but also to the legal and economic gaps in managing digital legacies.
For now, fans continue to share clips of his unforgettable Gachagua impressions online, keeping his comedic spirit alive — a young man who made a nation laugh and left us far too soon.
