Kaluma Boy dismisses claims TikTokers gifted him Ksh17M during Othaya fundraiser
By Steve Ireri, March 3, 2026TikToker Vincent Kaluma, popularly known on the video-sharing app as Kaluma Boy, has dismissed claims that he received Ksh17 million from online supporters during a fundraiser held at his home in Othaya, clarifying that the actual amount raised was significantly lower.
Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Kaluma explained that misinformation spread widely after the fundraiser, with some social media users exaggerating the total contributions.
He noted that the amount raised by TikTokers during the event stood at Ksh2.4 million, not the figures being circulated online.
“People spread many rumours after the fundraiser, most of them false, and some claimed that I had received Ksh17 million, but the total amount contributed was Ksh2.4 million. That is what TikTokers donated during the fundraiser at our home in Othaya,” he said.
The content creator revealed that the fundraiser came after he began sharing his personal story on TikTok, documenting the challenges he faced at home while caring for his ailing father.
Kaluma Boy recounted that he had just completed his KCSE when his father fell ill, placing him in a difficult period between finishing high school and preparing to join university.
During that time, he remained at home, helping with daily responsibilities while also caring for his father, who had suffered a stroke.
“I had just completed KCSE when my father fell ill, and it was during that period between finishing high school and going to university,” Kaluam Boy said.
He explained that despite the tough circumstances, he persistently asked his parents to buy him a phone, a request that initially proved difficult due to the family’s financial strain. According to him, his parents instead encouraged him to work on the farm so they could raise money for the device.
“While I was at home, I kept asking my dad to buy me a phone even though he was sick. I insisted that it was what I wanted, but they kept telling me to go work on the farm so we could raise money to buy one,” he shared.
The TikToker shared that his father eventually gave in to his request and bought him a simple phone using proceeds from tea farming, even as he continued battling illness.
It was after receiving the phone that Kaluma Boy began creating content, capturing his daily life, including working on the farm and taking care of his father. He noted that his intention was not to seek attention but simply to share his experiences.
“My dad saw how desperate I was and eventually bought me a simple phone. At that time, he had already suffered a stroke, and he got the money from tea earnings. After he bought me the phone, I started documenting the daily struggles I was going through, including picking tea and taking care of him,” he shared.
However, his videos resonated with many people online, drawing sympathy and support that eventually led to TikTok users organising a fundraiser at his home in Othaya.
“I was not doing it to get attention, just as normal content, and that is how people saw my story and came to Othaya to fundraise for me,” he added.