This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
As of Tuesday afternoon, a remarkable Sh2.1 million had been raised in support of Alvan Gatitu, a TikTok sensation who found himself evicted from his house over rent arrears. The funds were mobilized by social media funds mobilizer Ndungu Nyoro.
“…yesterday we were at 1.4M. Today, Kenyans have made it Kshs. 2.1M! It's unfathomable how this happened, but as a believer, I know God was in it. Alvan just needed to raise his voice. Thank you Kenyans for saying it's OK for a man to say he's pressed. You know, making it possible for other men to speak out when need be,” wrote Nyoro on July 7, 2020.
Alvan's eviction was a result of his landlord locking his house due to defaulting on rent, as well as water and electricity bills, in the past few months. The Covid-19 pandemic had severely affected his job, leading to financial struggles.
He had requested a friend to host him, but when he arrived at her place, she instructed security guards not to let him in. Alvan then explained his situation to the guards, who provided him with a carton to sleep in and a duvet.
Alvan, a singer and former Tusker Project Fame contestant, makes comical videos for online consumption and has become a TikTok sensation in recent times. He decided to record and release the video to remove the shame and pretense that comes with celebrity life.
