By Mercy Kokwon
Walk into any university in Kenya today and ask students to name their role models.
Chances are, you will hear names like Azziad, Vera Sidika, Kenyan Prince, or Thee
Pluto long before you hear Prof. PLO Lumumba, Wangari Maathai, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o,
or Chief Justice Martha Koome. In lecture halls, professors struggle to command
attention while students scroll TikTok, earbuds plugged in, catching up with the latest
dance challenge that trends in seconds.
The sobering truth is this, we are raising a generation that worships influencers more
than intellectuals.
Influencers have undeniably captured the hearts of young people. They are relatable,
entertaining, and make fame look easy. A viral video, a scandalous story, a flashy
lifestyle, suddenly someone is a celebrity.
But many influencers thrive not on courtesy, dignity, or achievement, but on
controversy. Scandals are narrated unfiltered on TikTok and Instagram stories, and
brands rush to advertise their products and services with them regardless of how
damaging the content may be. To impressionable students struggling with rent, tuition
fees, and the uncertainty of unemployment, this lifestyle looks not only attractive, but
achievable.
The problem is not that influencers exist, it is that they are replacing intellectuals as the
models of success.
In the past, university students idolized thinkers. Professors were mentors, philosophers
were guides, and authors were heroes. Today, intelligence is rarely trending. Clout,
followers, and likes define worth. Students would rather imitate an influencer’s dance
challenge than reflect on Chinua Achebe’s timeless wisdom.
Even media houses, once the platform for Kenya’s brightest minds, now prioritize
influencer scandals just to stay relevant in a clout-driven age. This shift sends a
dangerous message: knowledge is outdated, and entertainment is everything.
What students fail to see is that fame is fickle. Influencers rise and fall overnight. Take
the case of Mungai Eve, once one of Kenya’s most influential online personalities.
Today, her brand is said to be crumbling after parting ways with her former partner,
raising questions about the sustainability of fame built on personality rather than
substance.
Then there is the tragic story of the late Brian Chira, a Kabarak University alumnus. He
rose to fame after being an eye witness to a road accident and later appealing to
TikTokers for financial help to return to school, but controversy soon followed. His life
spiraled amid online feuds and defamation claims, and he later died in a road accident.
His story is a chilling reminder of how fleeting influencer fame can be, and how young
people idolizing such figures risk inheriting a path of instability and tragedy.
Influencers often showcase material success, cars, clothes, trips, without revealing the
grit, sacrifice, or discipline behind real achievement. Students begin to believe that
followers equal impact, and fame equals greatness. The result? A campus culture
obsessed with shortcuts, brand deals, and online validation, instead of critical thinking,
research, and innovation.
And yet, it is intellectuals who build nations. No country ever rose on trending hashtags
alone.
If Kenya’s brightest minds continue to be more inspired by TikTok dances than
textbooks, the future is at stake. We risk producing graduates who are entertainers in
the digital space but powerless in real life, citizens who can chase clout but cannot
solve Kenya’s pressing problems.
A generation that worships influencers over intellectuals will inherit a society that is
noisy but empty, flashy but fragile.
Influencers are not the enemy. In fact, some use their platforms to inspire, educate, and
advocate for change. The danger is when influence replaces intellect, when fame
overshadows wisdom. Students must learn to admire both, but never confuse them.
Follow your favorite TikToker, yes, but also read Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. Like your
Instagram model’s picture, yes, but also listen to Wangari Maathai’s speeches. Let your
playlist include both trending sounds and educative podcasts.
The future of Kenya depends on a generation that celebrates thinkers as much as
entertainers. Fame fades, but ideas last forever. If students can balance the energy of
influencers with the wisdom of intellectuals, then creativity and critical thought can
shape tomorrow. But if the worship of influencers continues unchecked, we risk raising
a generation of followers, not leaders.
