USIU Celebrates Alby Amidst Plan To Quit 'King Of Smiles' Videos

USIU celebrated Alby for his works in founding M. Alby Productions Limited...

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Mar 3, 2023 - 10:42 Updated: Mar 3, 2023 - 10:51
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USIU Celebrates Alby Amidst Plan To Quit 'King Of Smiles' Videos
Mohammed Alby aka King of Smiles and a library at USIU. /FILE.INSTAGRAM.M.ALBY

United States International University-Africa (USIU) on Friday, March 3 recognized one of its alumni, Mohammed Alby, a Kenyan TikTok star who went viral for his random compliments and pick-up lines that leave smiles on the faces of Kenyans walking along the streets.

In a statement by the university's Alumni Relations Department, USIU celebrated Alby for his works in founding M. Alby Productions Limited, which deals in corporate digital marketing and film production.

He graduated from the university in 2022 with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and his antics of spreading joy to Kenyans across the country have won hearts and a large online presence, especially on TikTok.

Mohammed Alby aka King of Smiles posing with his university degree. /USIU-AFRICA

"He is a young media personality who rose to fame by spreading joy to random strangers around Kenya. From cheesy lines that bring smiles, to touching strangers’ hearts by gifting them, ‘The King of Smiles’ holds a reputation for a positive impact on Kenyan society.

"His online audience, known as the ‘Mambo Nation’, a slogan derived from the creator’s unique theme of starting each video with a ‘Mambo’ and ending with a smile, hit a milestone of close to 90 million views on TikTok, which is Alby's biggest social platform alongside Instagram and YouTube. Alby also used his popularity to spread smiles in the streets of USIU-Africa while he was a student," stated USIU in part.

USIU also recognised the 23-year-old for not only building a name for himself in the hearts of many Kenyans but also in the corporate world where he took up marketing campaigns last year for major corporate brands such as Centum (Two Rivers Mall, Galitos, Bic, Nokia, InDrive and Fanta Africa).

The recognition comes days after Alby announced that he will stop recording his content with strangers in the country once he posts the few he has left.

The content creator who loves speaking in parables and letting someone crack the joke out of it lamented that he was hit with several lawsuits which have since made him cease doing what he was known for best.

"After I post the next few videos I have in my gallery, I will never do a video with any stranger in Kenya. I'm completely done with spreading smiles because at the end of the day what it's gotten me is making me not even want to see another day.

"I've held on for so long. I've shot so many videos in the past months bringing smiles to people yet I'm sinking mentally so badly because I'm getting sued for making someone smile," explained Alby.

Alby went ahead to share a court notice on his Instagram page alerting him of the lawsuit and compelling him to enter an appearance in the suit within 14 days from the date of service, failure to which, a judgement would be issued in his absence.

In court documents seen by Viral Tea, Alby was accused of driving by a market stall in Nairobi and engaging a shop attendant in a conversation with the sole intention of defaming her. He was also accused of secretly recording without her consent.

"The exact words uttered by the Defendant were “Mambo? niko na chwani hapa naweza kupea mapenzi ya dhati nibaki nimembao” which can be loosely translated as "Hello, I have fifty shillings here, I can give you sincere love and still have an erection. The Defendant secretly recorded the conversation without the Plaintiff‟s consent and knowledge. The Defendant proceeded to post a video clip of the conversation on his social media handle known as TikTok.

"The video clip attracted all manner of disparaging comments that have resulted into tarnishing the Plaintiff‟s character and her good standing in the community. The Defendant made utterances to the effect that the Plaintiff is a prostitute plying her trade," read the documents in part.

Alby was also accused of maliciously, and with ill motive, uploading the video clip on his TikTok handle to increase circulation with a view of entertainment and making monetary gain from the same at the expense of the attendant's reputation.

The attendant wants the court to compel him to compensate her for general damages and or loss arising from the publication of the video of their conversation without her express authority as well as aggravated damages and an order of permanent injunction restraining him from publishing and/or using her image, likeness and conversations in any way in its advertisements or social media platforms.

Mohammed Alby during a past video shoot. /MAMBO NATION

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