American YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has received a mixed response online for his latest video in which he claims to have built 100 wells across Africa. The video, released on Saturday, has sparked a debate among Kenyan activists and journalists who believe it highlights the failures of the Kenyan government.
Donaldson stated that the new wells will provide clean drinking water for approximately 500,000 people in Cameroon, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. In addition to this, a fundraiser accompanying the video has raised over $300,000 to support local water aid organizations.
The 10-minute video showcases Donaldson donating various supplies to Kenyan schools, including furniture, soccer balls, computers, whiteboards, and projectors. He also built a bridge to connect a village with local schools and a hospital, as well as providing bicycles to a Zimbabwean village to assist children in getting to school.
Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi contrasted Donaldson’s actions with the shortcomings of the Kenyan government, describing the country as “shameful” and “horrible.” Mwangi criticized the government’s allocation of funds, questioning why millions are spent on car grants for elected officials while boreholes for clean water remain neglected.
Freelance journalist Ferdinand Omondi praised Donaldson’s efforts but expressed embarrassment that a YouTuber had to step in to perform tasks that should have been completed by the government using taxpayer money.
CNN attempted to reach out to a Kenyan government spokesperson for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Despite the focus on criticizing the Kenyan government, Donaldson anticipated a backlash and stated that he did not care if he faced cancellation for uploading a video aimed at helping people.
Aspiring Kenyan politician Francis Gaitho echoed some criticism, claiming that Donaldson’s video perpetuated the stereotype that Africa is dependent on handouts and philanthropic intervention. However, Gaitho’s comments also faced backlash.
Donaldson, who has amassed over 200 million subscribers on YouTube, is known for his philanthropy. He has previously sponsored cataract surgeries for 1,000 blind individuals and provided prosthetic limbs for 2,000 amputees. These acts of kindness have contributed to his success as a YouTuber, potentially making him a billionaire and earning him recognition as one of Time magazine’s most influential people in 2023.
While some critics have accused Donaldson of exploiting vulnerable individuals for views and revenue, he remains committed to using his platform to help and inspire others.
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