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A Kenyan TikTok creator, Tatu, says he has been left unpaid after hosting a foreigner who claimed to have lost his passport in Nairobi.
In a video posted July 10 on his account @thithad3, he alleges that his guest, identified online as Cliff Hirneisen, did not honour a verbal agreement to reimburse living expenses incurred during their stay together.
The mzungu ditched me. He did not pay me. He did not refund me. He ate at my place. He lived at my place. I helped him because he had told me he would pay me back on the 6th. But he left with some madam, I do not know whether they met on TikTok or elsewhere.
Hirneisen was reportedly stranded in Nairobi after losing his passport during anti‑police protests.
Video clips from the TikToker show Hirneisen seated outside a supermarket while others show him inside the host’s bedsitter apartment, where he remained until his passport was found and returned.
@Thithad3 seated outside a Quickmart branch with stranded mzungu he hosted
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Covered all the costs
In his July 10 video, the TikToker says he covered all costs for food, transport and utilities by drawing on his personal savings.
"I need help because I used up my savings. I currently do not have rent and I have no money for food," he adds, and requests information on Hirneisen’s whereabouts so he can recover his losses.
Screenshot of content creator @Thithad3's post
At the time of writing, neither party has provided documentary evidence, such as chat logs or mobile‑money records, to the public.
No response has appeared on Hirneisen’s social media accounts, and the creator has not indicated whether he plans to pursue legal action or lodge a formal complaint.
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Risks of informal hosting
@Thithad 3, Kenyan content creator, hosting mzungu man in his residence
Informal hosting arrangements promoted on social‑media platforms have grown in Nairobi in recent years.
Content creators sometimes offer shelter to stranded tourists in exchange for online exposure, drawing attention and followers.
While many arrangements conclude without dispute, hosts who cover expenses without written confirmation may face significant financial risk.
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Context within tourism
Stranded man who lost his passport hosted by a Kenyan
Kenya’s tourism sector has rebounded strongly in the last year: international visitor arrivals reached approximately 2.39 million in 2024, up nearly 15% from the previous year.
Tourism contributes around 10% of national GDP and supports an estimated 1.6 million jobs. Despite this growth, regulatory guidance on informal, social‑media‑driven hosting remains limited.
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Legal considerations
Under Kenyan law, verbal agreements are difficult to enforce without written proof.
Without documentation, hosts may find it difficult to enforce repayment promises.
While licensed homestay operators are required by law to register guests and maintain detailed records, individual content creators typically have no such obligations.
The July 10 video by @thithad3 has drawn more than 100,000 views within 24 hours and prompted online discussion about hospitality and trust.
Some of his followers have offered to contribute toward the creator’s immediate needs, while others have suggested seeking redress through official channels.