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| Photo collage/Blessed Media 001 Kaluma Boy Mc chris & Bishop Ben |
The story of Kaluma Boy, his ailing father and the extraordinary support he received from Kenyans has taken a new turn, with a public dispute now emerging over money raised during the fundraising campaign.
What began as a powerful story of a young man caring for his sick father has now developed into an online accountability debate involving Kaluma Boy, Bishop Benson Gathungu Kamau (Bishop Ben), MC Chris Kirubi Junior and other people who were involved in supporting the family.
The central question now being asked online is simple:
Why Was Money Raised for Kaluma Boy's Family?
The fundraising campaign started after Kaluma Boy publicly documented the difficult situation at home while caring for his father, who had suffered a serious stroke.
Contemporary reports from September 2025 said Kaluma had been sharing videos showing his father's condition and the challenges involved in caring for him. His father had suffered a stroke in August 2024 and remained in need of medication, hospital care and physiotherapy.
According to reports at the time, Kaluma explained that the family's financial burden had become overwhelming. His father required continuing medical attention, medication and therapy, while Kaluma was also trying to support the household.
His appeal touched thousands of Kenyans, particularly people on TikTok.
The response eventually became much bigger than an ordinary online fundraiser.
The September 2025 Fundraising Drive
On September 28, 2025, thousands of Kenyans, including TikTokers and other well-wishers, travelled to Othaya in Nyeri County to stand with Kaluma and his family.
Reports described large crowds arriving by buses, private vehicles and motorcycles. The primary objective was to support the family financially and emotionally, particularly because of the father's medical needs.
The fundraising was therefore not originally presented simply as a personal cash gift to Kaluma Boy.
The public appeal was connected to several needs surrounding the family, including:
- Treatment and medical care for Kaluma's father.
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
- Medication and other medical expenses.
- Food and household support.
- Improving the family's living conditions.
- Construction of a better home for the family.
- Long-term support intended to make the family more financially stable.
Reports at the time also said well-wishers pledged to build the family a new home.
Bishop Ben and the JCM Church Connection
Bishop Benson Gathungu Kamau, popularly known as Bishop Ben, became associated with the family's support campaign.
According to reports published during the fundraising period, Bishop Ben was already aware of Kaluma's situation and promised to support the family until the father's condition improved.
He was reported to have provided a special medical bed, food supplies and an electric wheelchair.
The relationship later expanded beyond medical assistance.
According to posts now circulating online, Bishop Ben and businessman Mofarm were involved in arrangements concerning land and construction for the family.
Earlier reports indicated that a new home was being constructed for Kaluma's family in Chaka and that Bishop Ben had expressed confidence that the project would be completed.
The Construction Project
One of the most important parts of the support campaign was the plan to give the family a better home.
In his recent Facebook post, Benson Gathungu Kamau claimed that the family had agreed to acquire an acre of land in Chaka for farming.
He further claimed that a quarter-acre portion would be used for the family's home while the remaining land would be available for farming.
According to his account, construction of the house progressed substantially, with additional rooms also being constructed for the boys.
He said that at one point, when the family's finances had been exhausted, he wrote a KSh500,000 cheque which he said was given to Mofarm for gypsum and glass work.
He also claimed that the house was about 98% complete.
Medical Support for Kaluma's Father
Benson Gathungu Kamau also gave details of medical assistance in his post.
He claimed that, through his personal assistant Jobalex Ndungu, KSh60,000 was sent to Kaluma's mother to pay a therapist who had been assisting Kaluma's father.
He further stated that his father had spent approximately two months at Jumuia Hospital Huruma, where he claimed nearly KSh1 million was spent.
The broader history of the fundraising centred heavily on the father's medical condition and continuing rehabilitation needs.
The Family Also Received Other Forms of Support
The assistance did not end with medical care and construction.
Earlier reporting indicated that the family received food, household supplies and other forms of assistance.
A separate fundraising at JCM Church was also reported to have raised more than KSh2 million in about 30 minutes, with the money intended to help establish a shop and posho mill for Kaluma's mother.
According to Benson's recent post, a posho mill purchased through the wider support effort remained at the church premises.
He claimed that there had been an agreement for the business to be transferred to the family, together with a shop, so that it could provide an income source.
This is part of Benson's account and requires documentary confirmation if the dispute is to be conclusively settled.
Kaluma Also Reportedly Received Educational Support
Another major part of the assistance was education.
Benson claimed in his recent statement that a scholarship had been secured for Kaluma through his sister Wanja Nyarari.
Earlier reporting also confirmed that Kaluma received scholarship support after the fundraising campaign. Reports said he was offered a fully funded scholarship to study Digital Marketing.
This means the support surrounding Kaluma was broader than a single cash fundraiser. It involved medical assistance, construction, education, household support and attempts to establish income-generating activities for the family.
So Where Has the Current Controversy Come From?
The current controversy appears to centre on accountability for the money raised during the various fundraising activities.
MC Chris Kirubi Junior has questioned the amount of money that was reportedly collected.
In his Facebook statement, MC Chris said the people who could fully account for money collected were Kaluma Boy and the people to whom he had been sending money during construction and other activities.
He also disputed the widely discussed figure of KSh17 million.
According to his statement, information he said he obtained from Kaluma's family indicated that the amount collected through the family's accounts was less than KSh5 million, rather than the KSh17 million figure that had been circulating.
MC Chris further said he had listened to both sides and wanted the public to know how much had actually been collected and how it had been utilised.
The KSh17 Million Question
One of the biggest questions raised by the controversy is:
The KSh17 million figure is currently a disputed claim, not an independently established amount based on the material available.
MC Chris has publicly questioned the figure and asked for evidence showing who collected it and through which account.
There may have been several fundraising events, direct donations, church contributions, payments made directly to service providers, material donations and other forms of assistance.
Therefore, simply adding every publicly mentioned contribution together may produce a misleading figure.
A proper accounting would need to show:
- The total amount received.
- The account or payment channel through which each amount was received.
- The date each contribution was received.
- Who had access to the money.
- Whether the money was withdrawn or transferred.
- What each payment was used for.
- Receipts, invoices or payment confirmations.
- Which donations were made directly to contractors, hospitals or suppliers.
- The value of donated goods and services.
- The remaining balance, if any.
Bishop Ben's Position
Benson Gathungu Kamau has rejected suggestions that Bishop Ben personally handled or authorised transactions involving the family's money.
"Bishop Ben did not in anyway touch or authorised any transaction on behalf of the family."
He also said Bishop Ben's role was primarily to mobilise support and follow up on the family's needs.
His statement further claimed that Bishop Ben had helped mobilise construction support, medical assistance and other forms of aid but had not directly handled the family's fundraising transactions.
Benson also said a more detailed statement would be issued by Mofarm addressing the wider developments.
MC Chris' Position
MC Chris Kirubi Junior has taken a different approach.
Rather than focusing only on personalities, his posts repeatedly call for accountability and documentation.
He questioned how much was collected and how the money was spent.
He also stated that he had spoken to the family and Mofarm and had recordings from meetings and calls which, according to him, informed his earlier statements.
Importantly, MC Chris' posts represent his account of information he says he received from people involved. They should not automatically be treated as an independently audited financial report.
Kaluma Boy's Response
Kaluma Boy himself has now indicated that he intends to provide an account.
In the Facebook post shown in the screenshots, Kaluma thanked everyone who had contributed and supported the family.
He acknowledged that the matter had entered the public domain and said he believed it was appropriate to be accountable.
He stated that he would provide:
- The total funds received.
- How much was received.
- How the money was used.
His message appears to be an attempt to move the discussion from social-media accusations toward an accounting of the funds.
What Is Actually Established?
Based on the available reporting and the recent posts, several parts of the story are relatively clear.
First, the fundraising was genuinely connected to the difficult circumstances surrounding Kaluma's father, who suffered a serious stroke and required prolonged medical care.
Second, thousands of Kenyans responded to Kaluma's story and travelled to Othaya during the September 2025 fundraising.
Third, support went beyond cash. It included medical equipment, food, treatment, education, construction and other forms of assistance.
Fourth, construction of a new home for the family became one of the major projects associated with the support campaign.
Fifth, there are now conflicting public accounts concerning exactly how much money was collected and how it was utilised.
The Unanswered Questions
1. How Much Money Was Actually Raised?
Was it KSh17 million, less than KSh5 million in the family's accounts, or was the difference caused by multiple fundraising channels and direct payments?
2. Which Accounts Received the Money?
Were donations deposited into a family account, church account, paybill, personal accounts or several different channels?
3. Who Authorised Payments?
The public needs to distinguish between money directly controlled by the family and money paid directly by donors to hospitals, contractors, suppliers or other service providers.
4. How Much Went Into Construction?
A construction statement showing payments to contractors, suppliers and labourers would help establish the actual cost of the house.
5. How Much Was Spent on Medical Care?
Hospital bills, therapy payments, medication receipts and other medical expenses could establish how much was spent on the father's treatment.
6. What Happened to the Posho Mill and Shop Project?
If the business equipment was purchased using funds raised for the family, documentation should establish who purchased it, who owns it and where it is currently located.
7. What Happened to the Remaining Funds?
If there is a balance, the family and organisers should explain where it is and what the intended purpose is.
Why Accountability Matters
The controversy is bigger than the personalities involved.
Thousands of ordinary Kenyans contributed because they believed they were helping a young man caring for his sick father.
For many donors, the money was given in good faith.
That is why transparency is important.
At the same time, allegations circulating on Facebook and TikTok should not automatically be treated as proven facts. The fairest way to resolve the controversy is through bank statements, paybill records, receipts, hospital bills, construction records and a clear reconciliation of all donations.
If Kaluma Boy follows through with the promised financial account, it could provide an opportunity to settle many of the questions now dominating social media.
The Bigger Story Behind the Drama
Before the accusations and counter-accusations, the Kaluma Boy story was one of Kenya's most striking examples of social-media-driven community support.
A young man documenting the challenges of caring for his stroke-stricken father attracted the attention of thousands of Kenyans.
The online community then transformed that sympathy into physical action: people travelled to Othaya, raised money, brought supplies and became involved in improving the family's circumstances.
The campaign subsequently expanded into medical treatment, construction of a new home, education and income-generating projects.
That history is important because it explains why the current accountability debate has generated so much public interest.
People did not simply watch the story online. Many of them contributed.
And now, as Kaluma himself has indicated, the public wants to know what happened to the money.
