Former Machachari actor Tyler Mbaya, widely known as Baha, has raised questions on social media regarding the reluctance of diaspora Kenyans to assist young freelancers back home.
Taking to his Instagram stories, the digital creator highlighted a stark contrast between foreign strangers and close relatives living in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
A Contrast in Online Support
In his post, Mbaya revealed that total strangers abroad are actively supporting Kenyan remote workers by opening freelancing platform accounts and sharing earnings.
He stated that these foreign partners collaborate directly with local freelancers to manage online tasks and split the weekly revenue.
“Total strangers are opening freelancing accounts for us in the USA, UK & Canada, then we split revenue every week..." Mbaya provided the full account of his experience on his Instagram story.
Scepticism Amongst Relatives Abroad
However, Mbaya noted that attempts to seek similar assistance from friends and family members residing in the same Western countries are often met with scepticism.
According to Mbaya, relatives abroad frequently dismiss requests as fraudulent schemes or express fear of legal repercussions and deportation back to Kenya.
He described the frustration of dealing with relatives who refuse to assist local creators.
"Lakini ukiambia your friends & relatives in the same countries to do the same wanakwambia ni scam ati uunataka kuwarudisha home. Kenyans nani alituroga jameni?” he questioned.
The Digital Gig Economy
Tyler Mbaya rose to national prominence as a child actor in Kenya's popular television series Machachari, which aired on Citizen TV for nearly a decade.
Following the conclusion of the show, Mbaya established a career as a digital content creator, building an online audience of over one million followers.
With high youth unemployment rates across the country, thousands of young Kenyans rely on online freelancing, software development, and digital tasks to earn a sustainable living.
Data from the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy indicates that over 1.2 million young Kenyans are engaged in online gig work. However, strict platform verification processes and geographic restrictions mean many local creators rely on overseas accounts to access international job markets.
Career Transitions and Diaspora Dynamics
This is not the first time Mbaya has generated public discussion regarding financial opportunities and online work. In recent years, the creator has shared insights into navigating mental health, early parenthood, and career pivots within Kenya's competitive entertainment sector.
His latest post has sparked renewed conversation online concerning trust, diaspora relations, and the structural barriers facing young Kenyan freelancers attempting to access the global digital economy.
