9:55 pm - February 25, 2025
The Rise of the Manosphere in Kenya: A Growing Concern for Gender Equality
The Transformation of Relationships: When Love Turns to Contempt
Njeri wa Migwi, co-founder of Usikimye, a nonprofit organization in Nairobi that supports survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, shared a disturbing story of a once-loving husband who transformed into an abusive partner after consuming content from Kenya’s prominent “masculinity influencers.” These influencers, part of the global “manosphere” movement, promote a toxic form of masculinity that often leads to the devaluation and mistreatment of women. Migwi explained how the man, influenced by such content, began demeaning his wife and eventually turned physically violent. This story is not an isolated incident. Kenya, a largely patriarchal society, has seen a significant rise in gender-based violence (GBV), with 34% of women experiencing physical violence and 13% experiencing sexual violence at some point in their lives. The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated this issue, with GBV cases increasing by 92.2% between January and June 2020.
The manosphere, a global movement that opposes feminism and promotes misogynistic views, has found fertile ground in Kenya. Influencers like Andrew Tate, who gained global notoriety in 2022 for his anti-feminist and hateful rhetoric, have inspired a wave of similar voices in the country. These influencers often use social media platforms like X, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram to spread their ideologies, leading to a noticeable shift in how men perceive and treat women. Migwi and other activists warn that this toxic mindset is not only damaging relationships but also infiltrating younger generations, creating a culture of hostility and disrespect toward women.
The Key Players: Influencers Shaping Toxic Masculinity
The manosphere in Kenya is led by influential figures like Eric Amunga, known as “Amerix,” and Andrew Kibe, a former radio host turned podcaster. Together, they have amassed over three million followers across social media platforms, making them powerful voices in shaping the narrative around masculinity. Their content often revolves around themes of male superiority, entrepreneurship, and the idea that men are the real victims of societal imbalances. Amerix, for instance, popularized the hashtag #MasculinitySaturday, which has become a rallying cry for men embracing toxic masculine ideals. He also shares controversial advice, such as telling men not to date or marry “fat women” and emphasizing the importance of male dominance in relationships.
Andrew Kibe, on the other hand, has gained notoriety for his videos titled “10000000 reasons to fear women” and his claims that only men can protect women. His content, despite being banned on multiple platforms for hate speech, continues to circulate widely on social media. The hashtag #AndrewKibe had garnered over 441 million views on TikTok as of March 2024. These influencers exploit male vulnerabilities, such as feelings of inadequacy or disillusionment, and distort them to spread their rhetoric. By presenting themselves as voices of truth and empowerment, they attract men who feel marginalized or misunderstood by society.
The Role of Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword
Social media platforms have become the breeding ground for the manosphere in Kenya. A CNN analysis found that keywords associated with the manosphere, such as “simp” and “red pill,” have seen a significant rise in usage on platforms like X, TikTok, and YouTube. For example, the term “simp,” which refers to men who are perceived as weak or overly submissive to women, has seen over 80,000 mentions in Kenya since 2021. This growth coincides with the Covid-19 pandemic, which served as an inflection point for the spread of such ideologies.
However, the moderation of this content remains a challenge for tech giants. While platforms like TikTok, Meta, and Google prohibit hate speech, enforcement is inconsistent. Richard Ngamita, a former trust and safety official at X, highlighted the complexities of moderating content that often exists in a gray area between free speech and harmful rhetoric. He also pointed to the loss of local moderation teams, such as X’s Africa team, which has left platforms without the necessary insights to address context-specific issues effectively.
The Societal Impact: A Generation at Risk
The influence of the manosphere is not just limited to online spaces; it is deeply affecting Kenyan society. Women’s rights activists and relationship therapists report a noticeable shift in the behavior of men, particularly younger generations. Migwi recounted how her team, which visits high schools to discuss sexual and reproductive health, has been met with increasing hostility from young boys. She described how 15-year-old boys are now using degrading language to describe girls, viewing them as objects to be used and discarded. This shift in mindset is alarming, as it indicates a normalization of misogynistic views among the younger generation.
The impact is also evident in couples’ relationships. A pastor and marriage counselor in Nairobi shared that men are becoming emotionally disconnected and physically absent, often citing the need to spend time with male friends. This disconnection is a stark contrast to the more common issues of communication and personality clashes that couples faced before the pandemic. The pastor believes that the manosphere is distorting the way men perceive their roles in relationships, leading to a breakdown in emotional intimacy and mutual respect.
The Way Forward: Investing in New Narratives of Masculinity
Onyango Otieno, a mental, sexual, and reproductive rights advocate, believes that the key to addressing this issue lies in challenging the single narrative of masculinity that dominates Kenyan society. He argues that patriarchy has created a flawed understanding of manhood, one that equates strength with dominance and silence with power. This narrative has left many men emotionally unstable and vulnerable to the distortions of the manosphere.
Otieno calls for more investment in programs that focus on men’s emotional well-being and identity, alongside continued efforts to empower women. He emphasizes the need for positive male role models who can redefine what it means to be a man in Kenya. By promoting a more inclusive and compassionate understanding of masculinity, society can begin to heal from the harmful effects of the manosphere.
Conclusion: The Need for Collective Action
The rise of the manosphere in Kenya is a pressing issue that requires collective action. From the transformation of loving partners into abusive ones to the normalization of misogynistic views among young boys, the impact of this movement is far-reaching and deeply concerning. While social media platforms have a critical role to play in moderating harmful content, the solution lies beyond just banning influencers or removing posts.
The real challenge is to address the underlying vulnerabilities that make men susceptible to these ideologies. By investing in programs that promote emotional intelligence, financial literacy, and healthy relationships, society can empower men to embrace a more balanced and inclusive form of masculinity. As Otieno so aptly put it, “We need more investment in overhauling the single narrative of what a man should be. That single narrative is what’s killing many men and women.” It is time to redefine masculinity in Kenya, not just for the sake of women, but for the sake of men and society as a whole.