YY Comedian pokes fun at Kenyans for turning ‘Tell Me Why’ into a viral catchphrase
By Steve Ireri, July 20, 2025Kenyan stand-up comedian and digital content creator Oliver Otieno, widely known as YY Comedian, has joined the growing conversation around the trending slang “Tell Me Why”, making light of how quickly Kenyans adopt and overuse new catchphrases on social media.
In a video shared on his TikTok on Sunday, July 20, 2025, the popular comedian playfully criticised how the phrase has taken over everyday conversations, with Kenyans using it in every situation, whether it fits or not.
He joked that Kenyans have a habit of “burning words” once they go viral, saying the current obsession with “Tell Me Why” is no different.
“Did I not tell you that when Kenyans fall in love with one word, that word faces fire?” he teased, laughing at the widespread use of the phrase.
“Right now, it is ‘Tell Me Why’. You will hear someone say, ‘I have just gotten into the office; tell me why the cleaner is still cleaning. I am out here for lunch; tell me why it is so cold.’ Tell me why!” he said.
YY predicted that this latest trend would not last long, suggesting that in less than a week, the phrase would lose its charm and anyone using it would sound outdated.
“I have given that word for one week. By next week, using it will sound like you never went to school,” he added.
Advice to baby daddies
YY has been vocal about matters to do with Kenyans, and he recently went viral after he shared insightful advice for fellow fathers navigating co-parenting after a breakup.
Speaking to Milele FM presenter Ankali Ray on Thursday, July 3, 2025, YY asked baby daddies to take full control and make efforts to be in their child’s life.
The comedian added that once someone is a baby daddy, he should not react to anything, not even feel the need to explain or justify himself, but instead just let things run their course.
He emphasised that as a baby daddy, one should not try to over-explain oneself to anyone, including his baby mama; instead, stay focused and don’t get entangled in drama.
“Kama mwanamume, lazima uchukuwe usukani; ukishakuwa baby daddy, lazima uchukuwe usukani kabisa. Ukishakuwa baby daddy, usikuwe mtu wa kureact; usireact to anything na hata usiwai taka kujiexplain ama kueleweka; wacha vitu virun vile vinarun,” YY advised.
Child’s interets
He stressed that the child’s best interest must come first, adding that if something does not benefit the child, they should not engage in it.
“Usitake kujielezea sana kwa watu na kwa yule mnalea na yeye wewe focus usijibizane that is the only way inaweza saidia,” YY added.
“We are living in a perfect world where differing in opinion is part of us, but when you differ in opinion, try as much as possible not to entangle anything in the italeta mavutano child’s interest, ndio ikuwe ya kwanza kabisa, priority number one in interest ya mtoto ka si interest ya mtoto usiengage hiyo ndio siri.”
Months after his split from content creator Marya Okoth, YY has remained focused on co-parenting their daughter, Circe Gaona, in a stable and positive environment.