KK Mwenyewe: TikToker Mimicking Gachagua Dies
The comedian passed away on Monday, July 14 at the Kiambu Level 5 Hospital after a short illness, according to fellow comedian and collaborator Kafengo.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Popular TikTok comedian Waithira Zakana Kariuki alias KK Mwenyewe, famous for mimicking former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, is dead.
The comedian passed away on Monday, July 14, at the Kiambu Level 5 Hospital after a short illness, according to fellow comedian and collaborator Kafengo.
"We Are Heartbroken To Announce The Sudden Demise Of Zakaria Kariuki A.k.a Mr Kk Mwenyewe. He Passed Away Yesterday Evening While Undergoing Medical Attention At Kiambu Level 5 Hospital.
"During This Sad Moments, We Ask For Support And Prayers. To The Family And Friends, May God Give Us Strength at These Difficult Times. May His Soul Rest In Peace," wrote Kafengo.
A photo of Mr KK Mwenyewe posted on social media on July 14, 2025. /KAFENGO
Kariuki’s comedic takes on the ex-Deputy President earned him 1.1 million TikTok followers and another 412,000 on Facebook. His last post on both platforms dropped on July 4.
His straight-faced, sketch-style humour clicked with a lot of Kenyans, as he regularly played characters that felt familiar to everyday life.
Whether he was mimicking politicians, teachers, or Gen Z habits, each skit found its crowd, pulling in hundreds of thousands of views, especially on TikTok.
Comedians, fans, and politicians alike flooded social media to mourn his passing. Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah described him as a satirist who didn’t aim to divide people, but rather used his comedy to reflect society’s truths, to challenge, educate, and bring people together.
"Kenya has lost not just a comedian, but a cultural commentator and a brave young patriot. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and the entire creative community," Omtatah stated.
"May his soul rest in peace, and may his light continue to inspire courage and creativity in those he leaves behind. Fare thee well, Mr KK Mwenyewe."
Gachagua, the figure whose impersonations helped skyrocket Kariuki’s fame, hadn’t publicly reacted to his death by the time this article was published. Details about the brief illness that led to Kariuki’s passing also remain undisclosed, though photos of him hospitalised have been circulating widely online.
On April 5, 2024, Kariuki was admitted to the hospital after consuming a high number of chillies. The content creator is an ardent Manchester United fan and had dared his fans to a challenge ahead of his team's encounter with Chelsea in the English Premier League (EPL) on Thursday, April 4.
The game turned out to be one of the contenders for the match of the 2023/24 season as United blew a 3-2 lead in 82 seconds, deep into stoppage time, to lose 4-3 to the Blues at Stamford Bridge in West London, United Kingdom (UK).
To honour his dare, the comedian embarked on consuming a kilo of chilli pepper, raw. He stated, "As I had promised, I will take a full kg of chilli, I don't know what will happen, but let's go," as he shared a video of himself eating the chilli from his plate.
He had to battle through the burning sensation by washing down the chilli with a two-litre bottle of soda, a matter which appeared to worsen with his trip to the toilet.
KK Mwenyewe then revealed that he was admitted to the hospital, with a video showing him confined to a hospital bed.
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