Top entertainment scandals that sent Kenya into a meltdown in 2025

In a year marked by public meltdowns, shock arrests, explosive breakups and courtroom drama, 2025 will go down as one of the most chaotic chapters in Kenya’s entertainment industry.

Celebrities who once basked in fame and online adoration suddenly found themselves at the centre of national scandals that dominated headlines, fuelled social-media fires, and left fans stunned.

From high-stakes fraud claims to messy relationship fallouts, here are the showbiz shocks that sent Kenya into a frenzy this year.

1. Rish Kamunge’s job-scam saga

No scandal rocked the country quite like the dramatic downfall of social-media influencer Rish Kamunge.

Known for her glamorous lifestyle and thousands of devoted followers, Rish was arrested in March after angry job-seekers stormed her office along Moi Avenue, accusing her of running a fake overseas-jobs agency.

Victims claimed they paid between Ksh200,000 and Ksh400,000 each for guaranteed Mauritius jobs that never materialised.

Investigators reported that at least 43 victims collectively lost a staggering Ksh12.9 million.

The scenes that unfolded were explosive, furious youths crowding the city centre, demanding refunds, answers and justice.

Rish was later charged and freed on a Ksh5 million bond, but the scandal triggered a national conversation about online scams, influencer accountability and the desperation of unemployed Kenyan youth.

For weeks, she was the country’s most talked-about woman — for all the wrong reasons.

2. Robert Burale vs the Mwakideus

October brought yet another bombshell, this time involving celebrity pastor and motivational figure Robert Burale, who filed a massive Ksh20 million defamation suit against media personality Alex Mwakideu and his former wife, Rozinah Mwakideu.

The lawsuit stemmed from a YouTube interview titled: ‘My biggest mistake was marrying Robert Burale’.

In it, Rozinah made a series of damning claims about her former husband — allegations Burale insists were false, destructive, and designed to tarnish his reputation and ministry.

He demanded that the video be pulled down and compensation issued.

The case ignited a heated national debate about the limits of online content, the rise of ‘tell-all’ interviews, and whether Kenya’s digital creators are crossing ethical lines for views and clicks.

3. Azziad Nasenya saga

One of the biggest storylines of the year involved Kenya’s TikTok Queen Azziad Nasenya, whose year was marked by unending reports of severe financial difficulties and the subsequent end of her relationship with fellow content creator Morgan Adrian.

Reports circulated throughout the year that Azziad was in deep debt, with claims of defaulting on significant loans from friends.

A major piece of the drama was the claim that her luxury apartment might be auctioned off to settle a Ksh25 million mortgage debt, a rumour that was widely discussed on social media.

Though she never publicly confirmed the rumours, the story dominated gossip headlines for weeks.

As social media reports of her financial woes escalated, her relationship with Morgan Adrian silently crumbled.

The messy aspect came from Adrian’s public comments, where he hinted that he couldn’t save her financially using a car analogy, basically implying the relationship had left him with a financial dent.

Azziad’s removal of his name from her social media posts confirmed the split for fans, making it a painful ending that played out in real-time online.

Messy celebrity breakups

If 2025 had a second theme beyond scandal, it was heartbreak. The country’s entertainment scene was hit with a wave of high-profile splits that unfolded in real time, often accompanied by cryptic posts, deleted photos, tears, counter-accusations and fan confusion.

4. Mulamwah and Ruth K

This was arguably the messiest split of the year.

After comedian Mulamwah announced their separation in April, the situation escalated in June when both parties began airing dirty laundry online.

This included accusations of infidelity and the sharing of private photos on social media, a move which is said to have led to Ruth K’s father cutting off communication with her.

Mulamwah even posted what he later said were AI-generated photos of a ‘mystery woman’, sparking rumours and chaos within their fanbase.

What began as the country’s favourite online love story ended in one of the year’s most dramatic digital divorces.

5. Khalif Kairo and Wavinya Maria

Businessman Khalif Kairo endured heartbreak during a period when he was also battling legal troubles, confirming in February that he and Wavinya Maria had separated.

He explained he had advised her to stay away to protect her peace during his difficulties.

She scrubbed their photos from social media, fuelling speculation that the breakup was more bitter than either wanted to admit.

6. Eric Omondi and Lynne Njihia

Comedian Eric Omondi and his ex-fiancée Lynne Njihia went their separate ways just days after they appeared smitten while jetting off on a romantic getaway to celebrate her 24th birthday.

Lynne, a model and content creator, broke the news on April 8, 2025, confirming the end of her years-long relationship with the 43-year-old entertainer — with whom she shares a daughter, Kyla Omondi.

“Life update. I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Eric Omondi. It wasn’t easy, but it’s what’s best for peace, growth, and the future I envisioned for myself and my daughter. Here’s to new beginnings — always,” Lynne wrote in a heartfelt post.

The shock announcement sent fans into a frenzy, especially after their birthday getaway seemed to suggest all was well behind the scenes.

Eric and Lynne’s love story had captured the hearts of many.

In August 2023, they welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Princess Kyla Omondi, after years of longing and emotional struggles.

The couple had also publicly mourned a painful miscarriage in November 2022, baring their emotions in touching social media tributes to the child they never met.

“Last night was one of the longest nights of my life. We fought for over 5 hours to try and save our little angel, but God had other plans,” Eric wrote at the time.

Lynne echoed the pain in her own tribute: “I still can’t believe you’re gone… I will forever love you.”

On Valentine’s Day 2023, Eric got down on one knee and proposed with a dazzling engagement ring.

A then-21-year-old Lynne gleefully flaunted the sparkler online, calling it a “new chapter in the same book.”

Fans had hoped for wedding bells – instead, they got breakup news barely a year later.

Despite the split, Lynne’s post suggests no bad blood, just a deep desire to move forward for her own well-being and her daughter’s future.

7. YY’s whirlwind romance

Comedian YY and ex-girlfriend Noela Toywa ended their romance early this year, barely months after he had introduced her to the public following his breakup with Marya Okoth.

YY revealed he walked away because the relationship “was no longer working,” refusing to expose details “out of respect.”

The public, however, was relentless and the split dominated entertainment blogs, especially given that their romance had begun with flamboyant dates, grand gifts, and online PDA.

8. Bahati’s endless drama

If drama were a sport, Bahati would have taken gold in 2025. His scandals came in waves — each more dramatic than the last.

A controversial new song, ‘Seti’

Bahati trended for the better part of October, following the release of his controversial song ‘Seti’, which sparked mixed reactions online.

The song hit 1 million views on YouTube just two days after its release, drawing both praise and criticism over its bold lyrics and explicit content.

The Shalkido tragedy

Bahati also made headlines following the unfortunate death of Gengetone artiste Kevin Mburu Kinyanju, popularly known as Shalkido.

The musician came under heavy scrutiny after sharing his last moments with the former Sailors Gang member, with many accusing him of ignoring Shalkido’s request for a music collaboration.

Online outrage erupted after Bahati, on October 6, 2025, took to social media to mourn the late Shalkido and revealed that they had recently discussed working on a collaboration. The singer said it pained him that they never got the chance to record together.

“You had just talked to my management on our collabo na mkapanga tuingie studio this coming week. Rest well, young king. Tutaonana baadaye,” Bahati wrote.

However, Bahati’s tribute sparked backlash, with many social media users accusing him of exploiting Shalkido’s death for publicity.

The foot liquor video

A bizarre video of Bahati drinking alcohol poured on Diana Marua’s feet sent social media into meltdown, with many accusing him of being a simp.

Mum and dad emerge from nowhere

The peak drama, two strangers – a man and a woman- appeared online claiming to be his long-lost parents, despite Bahati saying he attended his mother’s burial 25 years ago.

The emotional tug-of-war left Bahati shaken and the public divided.

It was the most bizarre identity saga Kenya had seen in years.

9. Pastor Kanyari’s behaviour after Betty Bayo’s death

The death of gospel singer Betty Bayo threw Kenya into mourning — but it was the behaviour of her ex-husband, Pastor Victor Kanyari, that stirred public backlash.

From tone-deaf remarks to awkward public appearances and controversial social media posts, Kanyari’s conduct left many questioning whether he was grieving or seeking attention.

He quickly became the centre of online conversations, with critics accusing him of insensitivity.