Vincent Kaluma (Kaluma Boy-in blue ), his mother (in the middle) and his father (wearing a mask) during the Sep 28,gathering./PHOTO ; X
On Sunday, September 28, the quiet village of Chinga in Othaya, Nyeri witnessed an extraordinary act of kindness.
Hundreds of Kenyans, many of them TikTok creators, travelled from different parts of the country to stand with a young man who has been carrying a heavy burden alone.
Vincent Kaluma, popularly known as Kaluma Boy, is a rising content creator who has been documenting his life caring for his ailing father.
His videos, often simple glimpses into the struggles of their home, captured the attention and hearts of thousands online.
What began as small clips of him feeding, bathing, or taking his father outside for sunlight soon grew into a moving portrait of resilience and love.
His father’s illness began in August 2024 when he suffered a stroke. The condition left him bedridden after three months in a coma.
Since then, Kaluma and his mother have taken on the full-time responsibility of caring for him.
The young man, barely out of his teens, has been balancing caregiving with casual work on nearby tea farms to raise money for expensive medication and weekly catheter changes.
“The medicines are very costly, especially the neurological ones,” he explained in one video.
“It has been tough because he cannot go to the bathroom on his own. The catheter must be changed every week, and therapy is also expensive.”
As his videos circulated, viewers began to ask how they could help. The vulnerability and honesty in his posts struck a chord, especially among fellow young people navigating the difficulties of family responsibilities.
Soon, the call to action grew into what many have described as “Kaluma Day.”
Operation Othaya
On the morning of the visit, long convoys of matatus, private cars, and even buses wound their way into Othaya. Some carried gifts: bags of maize flour, rice, milk, and sugar.
Others carried envelopes of cash. One visitor arrived with a large cake decorated with images of Kaluma and his father, declaring, “Today we say it is Operation Othaya.”
The scene was both festive and deeply emotional. TikTokers, celebrities, and church leaders stood shoulder to shoulder with villagers, singing songs of encouragement and praying for the family.
Neighbors peeked from their homes as crowds streamed into the compound, proof that a story shared online had translated into real-world action.
For Kaluma’s mother, the support was overwhelming. Tears welled in her eyes as she thanked the visitors for showing up not just with donations, but with compassion.
“This is more than we ever expected,” she said softly, holding her husband’s hand during the gathering.
Kaluma himself was visibly moved. In a short video recorded during the gathering, he expressed gratitude.
“I thank all Kenyans who have come to support us,” he said.
“For a year now, we have been in and out of the hospital. Bringing him home has been like living in a ward. But today, you have reminded me that I am not alone.”
The father, though frail, smiled warmly as guests greeted him. His presence, fragile but resilient, made the struggle more real for those who had followed the journey only through a screen.
Many of the visitors stayed to talk to him, offering words of encouragement and promising to keep supporting his care.
The day was not only about raising funds. It was also about connection.
Videos shared online show young people laughing together as they carried supplies, others dancing in the compound, and groups sitting under trees listening to Kaluma’s story first
hand.
What began as a digital movement transformed into a tangible community of support.
The solidarity carried a lesson: in an era where social media is often criticized for fostering isolation, it can also be a tool for empathy.
Strangers who had never met before mobilized themselves, traveled long distances, and chose to stand with a family in need.
One TikTok creator, MC Chris Kirubi, who was among the visitors, summed up the spirit of the day.
“This is what it means to be Kenyan. We come together when one of us is struggling. We don’t ask for permission to care,” he said.
A movement of hope
The donations collected are expected to go toward physiotherapy sessions and the purchase of medication.
While the road ahead remains challenging, the event lightened the family’s immediate burden and restored their hope.
Since then, social media platforms have remained flooded with posts praising those who organized and participated.
Many called it an example of how online communities can move beyond entertainment into meaningful action.
Kaluma continues to document his father’s recovery journey. This time, however, his videos are no longer just about struggle but also about gratitude.
His clips now capture not only the weight of illness but also the warmth of the community, the people who arrived in buses, carrying food, medicine, and encouragement.
What happened in Othaya was not a one-off act. It was a reminder that ordinary people, when moved by empathy, can come together to fill gaps often left by formal systems.
It was also proof that storytelling, even in its simplest form, has the power to inspire real change.
For Kaluma Boy and his family, September 28 will forever be remembered as the day when a digital cry for help turned into a nationwide movement of generosity.
For Kenyans, it was another chapter in the story of a people who, despite challenges, still know how to show up for one another.
As the sun set over Othaya that evening, the convoy of buses and cars began its return journey.
The compound that had been filled with music, prayer, and laughter slowly quieted.
Inside the home, Kaluma’s father rested, surrounded by his family, the medications he needed, and the reassurance that his son’s efforts had not been in vain.
For Kaluma, the weight he had carried on his young shoulders had been shared, at least for a while, by hundreds of others. And in that act of sharing, hope found a place to stay.
