Kenyan TikToker in US Faces Backlash Over Alleged Fake Homelessness Scam Targeting Diaspora

Country: United States
Date Published: November 27, 2025

NAIROBI – A Kenyan content creator based in the United States has ignited a firestorm on X (formerly Twitter) after users uncovered what they claim is a elaborate scam involving fabricated tales of homelessness to solicit funds from fellow Kenyans abroad and back home. The controversy erupted on November 27 when a viral thread by user @KenyansAbroadWatch, a popular diaspora watchdog account with over 50K followers, exposed inconsistencies in the influencer's videos. The posts, which garnered over 10,000 retweets and 25K likes within hours, highlighted luxury items like a designer handbag and a high-end apartment visible in the background of "sob stories" posted on TikTok.

The influencer, known online as @USKibetHustle (real name Kelvin Kiprop, 28), had built a following of 150K by sharing emotional videos pleading for donations to cover rent and medical bills after allegedly losing his job. Donations poured in via CashApp and M-Pesa, with X users sharing screenshots of transfers totaling thousands of dollars. However, @KenyansAbroadWatch pointed to geotagged posts from upscale Atlanta neighborhoods and a now-deleted Instagram story showing Kiprop at a lavish party. "Kenyans in the diaspora are tired of being scammed by our own," the thread began, sparking hundreds of replies from verified Kenyan journalists and influencers like @CitiZenTVKenya reposting the evidence.

Positive notes emerged amid the outrage, with some users praising Kiprop's earlier content that motivated unemployed youth to seek opportunities abroad. One viral reply from @DiasporaQueenKE, a verified real estate agent in Texas, noted, "He did inspire many to hustle legally before this mess." Yet, the backlash dominated, with calls for accountability growing louder. US-based Kenyan group admins on X organized a live discussion thread, amassing 5K participants, where users shared similar experiences of fraud by compatriots. "This hurts our community's reputation," tweeted @KenyanDocsUS, a collective of Kenyan professionals.

As of December 2, the influencer's TikTok account was suspended, and X sleuths reported his details to US immigration authorities, fearing visa violations. Kiprop has not responded publicly, but a pinned tweet from November 28 vaguely apologized for "misunderstandings." The saga underscores ongoing tensions within the Kenyan diaspora, where success stories clash with rising scams exploiting cultural ties. Kenyan media outlets like @K24Tv and @StandardKenya amplified the discussion, turning it into a trending topic under #DiasporaScams, with over 100K mentions in 48 hours. Authorities in both countries have yet to comment officially.