The worship of influencers over intellectuals is creating a role model crisis

Walk into any university in Kenya today and ask students to name their role models. Chances are, you will hear names like Azziad, Lydia Wanjiru, Kenyan Prince, or Thee Pluto long before you hear Prof. PLO Lumumba, Wangari Maathai, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, or Chief Justice Martha Koome. In lecture halls, professors struggle to command attention while students scroll TikTok, earbuds plugged in, catching up with the latest dance challenge that trends in seconds.

The sobering truth is this, we are raising a generation that worships influencers more than intellectuals.

Influencers have undeniably captured the hearts of young people. They are relatable, entertaining, and make fame look easy. A viral video, a scandalous story, a flashy lifestyle, suddenly someone is a celebrity.

But many influencers thrive not on courtesy, dignity, or achievement, but on controversy. Scandals are narrated unfiltered on TikTok and Instagram stories, and brands rush to advertise their products and services with them regardless of how damaging the content may be. To impressionable students struggling with rent, tuition fees, and the uncertainty of unemployment, this lifestyle looks not only attractive, but achievable.

The problem is not that influencers exist, it is that they are replacing intellectuals as the models of success.

ALSO READ;

NTSA issues safety checklist for school transport ahead of reopening

In the past, university students idolized thinkers. Professors were mentors, philosophers were guides, and authors were heroes. Today, intelligence is rarely trending. Clout, followers, and likes define worth. Students would rather imitate an influencer’s dance challenge than reflect on Chinua Achebe’s timeless wisdom.

Even media houses, once the platform for Kenya’s brightest minds, now prioritize influencer scandals just to stay relevant in a clout-driven age. This shift sends a dangerous message: knowledge is outdated, and entertainment is everything.

What students fail to see is that fame is fickle. Influencers rise and fall overnight. Take the case of Eve Mungai, once one of Kenya’s most influential online personalities. Today, her brand is said to be crumbling after parting ways with her former partner, raising questions about the sustainability of fame built on personality rather than substance.

Then there is the tragic story of the late Brian Chira, a Kabarak University alumnus. He rose to fame after being an eye witness to a road accident and later appealing to TikTokers for financial help to return to school, but controversy soon followed. His life spiraled amid online feuds and defamation claims, and he later died in a road accident. His story is a chilling reminder of how fleeting influencer fame can be, and how young people idolizing such figures risk inheriting a path of instability and tragedy.

Influencers often showcase material success, cars, clothes, trips, without revealing the grit, sacrifice, or discipline behind real achievement. Students begin to believe that followers equal impact, and fame equals greatness. The result? A campus culture obsessed with shortcuts, brand deals, and online validation, instead of critical thinking, research, and innovation.

And yet, it is intellectuals who build nations. No country ever rose on trending hashtags alone.

ALSO READ;

TSC promotion scoresheet favours teachers aged 57 and above

If Kenya’s brightest minds continue to be more inspired by TikTok dances than textbooks, the future is at stake. We risk producing graduates who are entertainers in the digital space but powerless in real life, citizens who can chase clout but cannot solve Kenya’s pressing problems.

A generation that worships influencers over intellectuals will inherit a society that is noisy but empty, flashy but fragile.

Influencers are not the enemy. In fact, some use their platforms to inspire, educate, and advocate for change. The danger is when influence replaces intellect, when fame overshadows wisdom. Students must learn to admire both, but never confuse them.

Follow your favorite TikToker, yes, but also read Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. Like your Instagram model’s picture, yes, but also listen to Wangari Maathai’s speeches. Let your playlist include both trending sounds and educative podcasts.

The future of Kenya depends on a generation that celebrates thinkers as much as entertainers. Fame fades, but ideas last forever. If students can balance the energy of influencers with the wisdom of intellectuals, then creativity and critical thought can shape tomorrow. But if the worship of influencers continues unchecked, we risk raising a generation of followers, not leaders.

By Mercy Kokwon

You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE  and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.

>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories

 >>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape

>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.

    Sharing is Caring!

    Leave a Reply

    Don`t copy text!