The woman who played a pivotal role in motivating the Kenyan government to initiate discussions in parliament about the potential prohibition of TikTok in the country has come forward to explain her actions. She has now decided to share with the public the reasons behind her involvement in selling explicit photos and videos via the platform.
Identified as Cindy, a woman in her middle years, her videos gained widespread attention online. These videos depicted Cindy confidently offering explicit content through TikTok Live sessions. In these sessions, she solicited payments of 100 Kenyan shillings for viewers to access her explicit content, engaging in various explicit acts.
During a live session on TikTok, Cindy expressed her indifference to the criticism and negative comments she had received from online users. She recounted how men had taken advantage of her since her days in secondary school (Form Two). Neglected by her family, she had been compelled to resort to selling her body for as little as 200 Kenyan shillings in order to cover her school fees and basic necessities.
Cindy divulged that she had a difficult and troubled history, leading her to believe that selling explicit content online was the only way for her to transform her circumstances. Unperturbed by societal judgments and opinions, she claimed to be upfront about her intentions, using her body as a means to bring about change in her life.
She disclosed the estrangement she had experienced from her siblings and the lack of familial support, emphasizing that creating TikTok videos was her sole method of survival. Cindy appealed to others to withhold judgment, as this unconventional avenue was her primary source of income, one she pursued with unwavering determination.
The debate regarding the potential prohibition of TikTok in Kenya continues to be deliberated within the parliament. The final verdict rests with the parliament members, and it remains to be seen whether Kenya will opt for a course of action similar to Somalia’s by fully banning TikTok in the country.
