The burial of TikToker Brian Chira on Tuesday, March 26, at his grandmother’s ancestral land in Gitei village, Gathanje, Kiambu County, was marked by a significant turnout from the content creator community, known as the ‘Chira Clan.’
However, what was meant to be a solemn occasion turned chaotic and contentious as hundreds of TikTokers descended on the gravesite, behaving in a manner that shocked the villagers and family members present.
Chira’s funeral procession drew attention not only for its size but also for the disorderly conduct of many attendees.
Despite attempts by the family and villagers to maintain dignity during the burial ceremony, the TikTokers seemed oblivious to cultural norms and traditions, acting in ways that were deemed disrespectful and inappropriate.
The chaotic scenes began to unfold as soon as the funeral procession arrived at the gravesite.
The TikTokers, many of whom were visibly intoxicated, disregarded the solemnity of the occasion, dancing, recording videos, and taking selfies around Chira’s resting place.
They appeared more focused on capturing the moment for social media than paying their respects to the deceased.
Witnesses described how the TikTokers took over the gravesite, preventing family members and religious leaders from conducting the burial ceremony according to tradition.
The atmosphere was tense as the TikTokers showed little regard for the solemnity of the occasion, engaging in loud and disruptive behavior.
Despite the efforts of the family and villagers to restore order, the TikTokers continued to behave inappropriately, even disrespecting the gravesite itself.
Some were seen stepping on graves, urinating in public, and using strong language, further exacerbating tensions with the local community.
The behavior of the TikTokers drew condemnation from many villagers, who expressed their disappointment and dismay at the lack of respect shown towards Chira and his family.
“We didn’t like how they were dressed, smoking, and drinking alcohol in front of us. They weren’t respectful even to the clerics. They disrespected our Kikuyu traditions, and we’ve never seen that before. They were urinating everywhere. That’s not how we were raised,” remarked one villager.
Another expressed concern about the influence of social media on the younger generation, fearing that such behavior would become normalized if left unchecked.
“They’re mixing the church and the world. It didn’t feel like a burial; they seemed to be celebrating. Taking selfies and coming here drunk wasn’t appropriate,” they said.
