Kenyan internet star Alvan Gatitu was forced to sleep in the cold on Saturday night, July 4, after being locked out by his landlord.
Alvan said that he had fallen behind on his rent for a couple of months due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on his job.
The former Tusker Project Fame contestant took to his Facebook page at around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, to narrate how he came home only to find the gate locked, with calls to both his landlord and estate custodian going unanswered.
"My last resort is right here where I found a place to sleep. I thought that this friend of mine could help me but as soon as I got to her gate, she told the security guards not to let me in. I then explained my situation to the guards who laid out a carton for me in their storeroom and gave me a duvet as well," he explained in disbelief.
He had tried to reach out to his friends to accommodate him but none was in a position to, "they also have their own problems," be stated.
Luckily, his call to his church was answered and they were able to send him Ksh2,000 to find a place to rest for the night, however, after the lady friend he mentioned agreed that he could come over, he took a boda boda that charged him Ksh1,000 as it was past curfew hours.
Alvan made it clear in the video that he was sharing his Covid-19 story so as to encourage anyone in a similar situation that it was okay to fall.
"There is a day that comes when you can't put 2 and 2 together and even your friends will fail you, even the brightest fail at times. This is a message to everyone out there, I am here to remove the whole celebrity facade by keeping it real," he asserted
The singer and content creator even cracked a few jokes in between his narration, stating that he was feeling 'vulnerable' alluding to one of his Tik Tok videos that went viral.
He went on to reveal that he was waiting for sunrise so that he could find a place to have some tea and contemplate his next move.
Alvan's video has since gone viral and sparked a conversation on social media platforms, with hundreds of Kenyans reaching out to lend him a hand.
The majority of the responders lauded his strength stating that not many would have the courage to come clean on financial problems, especially personalities well known in the public domain.
The TPF star's story revived a previous recording by comedian Eric Omondi who revealed that most upcoming 'celebrities' were living in depression while trying to maintain an illusion of non-existent success.
Speaking during a show Radio Milele, in November 2019, Omondi opened up on the troubled life of the late Churchill show comedian Njenga Mswahili.
He went on to lament on how Mswahili had been crying out for help in his battle with depression for over three years but no one came to his aid.
"I also blame myself for assuming he will be alright especially due to the natural habit of assuming men can battle themselves out of any situation," Omondi regretted.
He further added that individuals in the public limelight battled serious depression on their own, in fear of judgment and that having a mentor to help one navigate the murky water of life on the fast lane could be the difference between life and death.
