With an estimated one million Kenyans being rendered jobless by the coronavirus pandemic, the harsh reality that the virus has distorted lives in the most unlikely quarters has come to be.
Many Kenyans are now struggling to make ends meet and the tragedy is that some of them, due to societal standing, are reeling in depression with no one to talk to over fear of being victimized. They are struggling to maintain a certain standard which the society views them from.
However, former Tusker Project Fame contestant and now an internet sensation Alvan Gatitu has awed many after coming out to speak of the challenges he is going through as a celebrity at this time.
In an eight-minute viral video on social media, Gatitu details how he has been forced to spend a night in the cold after his landlord locked his house over arrears spanning to a few months.
He says that besides his rent arrears, he had his water and electricity disconnected for close to two weeks. This is despite working so hard to make ends meet.
“My landlady and landlord waliamua wako na shida zao na mimi nikae na zangu so mimi nililala nje (they decided they have their own problems and I have mine so I should sleep outside). Please note that as this was happening nilikuwa nimekatiwa maji na stima for one and a half weeks. Just trying to make ends meet,” Gatitu plaintively said in a video he recorded at 5:30 am, Sunday.
He detailed that even his closest friends despite reaching out to them for help, are not able to help him out because, they too, have problems of their own.
In the video, he says that he is not ashamed of coming out adding that he intends to end the shame and pretence that is part of celebrity life.
“There is a day that comes when you can’t put two and two together and even your friends will fail you, even the brightest fail at times. This is a message to everyone out there, I am here to remove the whole celebrity façade by keeping it real,” he opines.
He adds: “I’m just here to remove the whole celebrity lie. You can trend for months and still have nothing going for you. You can be popular but still struggling and I’m here to remove the same, let’s not pretend.”
His plight touched many people who reached out to him with encouraging messages as well as financial support.
Gatitu so overwhelmed by the love and support, thanked Kenyans for recusing him after highlighting his struggles.
“I appreciate everyone for the little and much you have done…I don’t know what to say. There is a God in heaven,” he said.
