A viral social media trend dubbed the “Kijana Kanipenda, Kanichukua Kanitengeneza” challenge has swept across Kenya, drawing both praise and criticism over its portrayal of relationships and personal transformation.
The challenge, driven by a remix of a song by Christina Shusho, features women sharing before and after moments of their lives following relationships or marriage.
In most of the videos, participants showcase dramatic glow-ups, moving from images where they appear distressed, unkempt, or struggling, to polished and happier versions of themselves. Many attribute the transformation to their partners, suggesting that emotional support, care, and financial stability played a key role in improving their lives.
However, the trend has taken a controversial turn, with some women posting “before” images that reflect deeply troubling experiences, including abuse, neglect, and extreme hardship. These portrayals, often contrasted with a seemingly improved present, have raised concerns about the normalization and public display of trauma for online engagement.
Human rights activist Hanifa Adan has strongly criticised the challenge, warning that it risks trivialising gender-based violence (GBV) and reinforcing harmful narratives.
“Maybe I’m woke but that TikTok trend of Kijana Kanichukua Kanitengeneza is trivializing GBV. There is nothing funny there,” Hanifa said in a social media post.
