Kenyans have shared their sentiments online after popular American youtuber, Mr. Beast said he drilled fifty-two wells in the country.
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the philanthropic youtuber documented digging of the wells and his interactions with students and communities in Kenya.
Consequently, the video has garnered over thirty million views.
After he left Kenya, Mr. Beast documented his journey as he flew to Zimbabwe, Uganda, and finally to Cameroon in his project to dig one hundred wells in Africa.
Strikingly, Mr. Beast does most of his philanthropy work through his website, Beast Philanthropy.
Kenyan netizens reacted to the Forbes listed, top content creator for his charitable works, with some saying that he was doing what Kenyan politicians had failed to do.
X user, Kiprono stated that “It costs about Ksh10-15 million (with taxes) to purchase a water drilling machine. The minimum constituency gets Ksh131m in CDF annually. It takes less than a week to drill a well, it’s possible to do so in each school and town centers countrywide. Mr Beast did it!”
However, Mr. Beast is not the only foreign celebrity who has done works of charity in Kenya.
Here is a list of a few celebrities who have done big acts of benevolence in the country.
Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything).
In September 2022, tech Youtuber and engineer, Zack Nelson announced his plans to build a library in Kenya.
“Education can solve all of the world’s problems, which is why we have exciting news that part of the 75,000 dollars that you guys have given us by watching our videos is going to be used to build a full-size library in Kenya,” Zack Nelson said in a video uploaded to his channel.
Also, through an Instagram post in November 2022, the youtuber announced the completion of the library construction expressing his excitement on the finished project
According to Zack Nelson, he was collaborating with his “uncle” Philip, a Kenyan who moved to the United States 15 years ago to pursue his education.
In the announcement video, Philip stated that it would be the only library within a 100-mile radius.
Furthermore, he said that the library would serve ten elementary schools, six high schools and three institutions in the area.
Jimmy Donaldson (Mr. Beast)
Also, building of wells in Kenya by Mr. Beast is not the first reported philanthropic act that the American Youtuber has done in the country.
In July 2023, Mr. Beast delivered electric bikes to Kenya and Haiti.
The provision of these electric bikes was meant to offer reliable transportation solutions.
Additionally, the youtuber envisioned that the bikes would enhance the locals’ capacity to earn a sustainable income for themselves and their families.
Further, Mr. Beast targeted areas in the country where the infrastructure was inadequate and unreliable in a bid to revolutionize the way people in those areas commute.
Jude Bellingham
Likewise, English footballer, Jude Bellingham through the Mustard Seed project helped locals in Mombasa build classrooms in 2021.
He was able to raise Ksh12 million for this particular project in Kenya which was part of a six-year project to build a school with twelve classrooms to host three hundred children.
At the time, he was only 18 years old, playing for Borussia Dortmund.
Additionally, he helped buy some laptops for the kids to improve their IT skills.
“Now I would really like to raise money to buy some laptops. The children need IT skills to follow the Kenyan curriculum and then for their life in the future,” Jude Bellingham stated then.
Also Read: Kenyans Roast Karen Nyamu Again Over Controversial Video
Dr. Auma Obama
In 2010, former US president Barrack Obama’s half-sister started the Sauti Kuu Foundation, which seeks to give a voice to disadvantaged children and youth.
Notably, the foundation is also registered in Germany.
According to the Sauti Kuu website, the foundation focuses on personality development, education, training, and building infrastructure such as learning and cultural centers.