Gachagua Cashes In on TikTok Gifts After Impeachment, Sparks Debate Over Motives

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is making a surprising political comeback—this time, not through press conferences or rallies, but via TikTok. Since his impeachment, Gachagua has rebranded himself as a fierce government critic, gaining traction among disillusioned Kenyans. But it’s his recent livestream that truly shook the internet.

On June 27, 2025, Gachagua hosted a fiery TikTok Live session, blasting President William Ruto’s administration while interacting with thousands of viewers. During the stream, he received 78 Lion gifts—TikTok’s premium virtual reward, each valued at $400 (KSh 51,800). The total? A staggering KSh 4 million, though TikTok takes a 50% commission, likely leaving him with around KSh 2 million.

This makes Gachagua the first Kenyan politician to earn big money directly from TikTok gifting, and his windfall quickly sparked heated discussion online.

Public Reaction: Genius Move or Shady Business?

On X (formerly Twitter), Kenyans were split:

• @rgc99f2byt: “Why are people gifting a billionaire politician? Make it make sense.”

• @air_b3nderrr: “He’s probably gifting himself through burner accounts for attention.”

• @TheDiplomat_Ke: “This looks like money laundering disguised as fan support.”

• @juskems: “This reeks of wash-wash. Probably his team ‘gifting’ him to sanitise cash.”

Not the First: Kenya’s TikTok Gifting Craze

Gachagua joins a growing list of Kenyan figures who’ve tapped into TikTok’s lucrative gifting system:

• King Roso, an anonymous philanthropist, made headlines for sending out massive Lion gifts. In March 2024, he gifted TikToker Nyako 70 Lions on her birthday—worth over KSh 1.5 million.
  He also donated KSh 850,000 to the late Brian Chira’s funeral and encouraged followers to help build a house for Chira’s grandmother.

  Nyako, often calling Roso her “money bag,” once pleaded live, “Send 10 Lions for my kids’ birthdays!”

• Pastor Victor Kanyari, another controversial figure, claimed in April 2024 that he had earned over KSh 400,000 through TikTok Live.
  “I’ve been gifted for free—I’ll donate it to a children’s home,” he said, before jokingly asking King Roso for five Lions: “Send them so I may die!”

Gifting or Laundering?

As TikTok gifting culture grows in Kenya, questions persist. Is this genuine support, clout-chasing with fake accounts, or a clever tool for cleaning dirty money? While Gachagua’s political pivot has certainly turned heads, the nature of his TikTok success is still under scrutiny.

What’s clear, however, is that TikTok is no longer just a stage for dancers and influencers—it’s now a serious financial and political tool.