Bahati Under Fire for Giving Fan KSh 200 as TikTok Users Flood Him With Cash
NAIROBI – A brief interaction between Kenyan singer Bahati and a fan has lit up the internet, sparking a fierce debate about celebrity generosity, entitlement, and dignity.
In a now-viral video, Bahati is seen handing a fan just KSh 200. The fan, clearly excited to meet the musician, read his phone number aloud during the encounter – a move that would soon change his day.
Within hours, Kenyans on TikTok began sending the man money through M-Pesa. Some sent KSh 3,000. Others gave up to KSh 5,000. Their message was clear: if Bahati wouldn’t give more, they would.
“Bahati knows what it means to come from nothing. This was disappointing,” said one user in a top comment under the viral clip.
Many online felt the musician, who has publicly spoken about his rough upbringing in Mathare, should have shown more compassion.
“He just bought his wife a car worth over KSh 50 million,” wrote another. “And then gives a fan 200 bob? Come on.”
But not everyone agreed. Some jumped to Bahati’s defence, saying no one should dictate how others spend their money.
“People need to stop feeling entitled to what isn’t theirs,” said one TikTok viewer. “Maybe that’s what he had on him. Maybe that’s what he wanted to give.”
Others echoed the sentiment, pointing out that acts of giving — however small — are still acts of kindness.
Neither Bahati nor his team have responded publicly to the growing online backlash. The musician, who rose to fame from Nairobi’s slums to become one of the country’s most recognizable stars, has often shared stories of his rise from poverty to success.
This latest moment, however, has left fans questioning whether the artist has lost touch with the struggles he once spoke about.
Meanwhile, the unknown fan, whose number was heard loud and clear, may have ended up with far more than he ever expected.
As the video continues to trend, it has sparked broader questions about class, pride, and the real meaning of generosity in an age when moments are broadcast to millions in seconds.
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