A handful of Kenyan diaspora celebrities still made headlines locally in 2023 even though they were thousands of kilometers away from Kenya.
In most cases, celebrities who relocate abroad usually disappear into oblivion as they often stay off the grid for too long that local fans forget about them altogether.
However, a handful of Kenyan diaspora celebrities have mastered the art of remaining relevant in local showbiz even as they stay across the seas.
Below is a list of Kenyan diaspora celebrities who made waves in Kenya in 2023:
Andrew Kibe
Controversial content creator Andrew Kibe has been rattling Kenyan celebrities and bruising women's egos with his masculine vibes from his base in Austin, Texas, USA.
Kibe quit Kiss FM in June 2020 and moved to the US where he started his podcast focused on 'enlightening' men.
His content has earned him hate and love almost in equal measure.
Kibe jetted back into the country on December 1, 2023, after more than two years in the US and caused commotion at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Rapper KRG the Don made his way to JKIA to beat up Kibe claiming he insulted him online in the name of making content.
Nyako
Controversial Germany-based Tiktoker Rose Atieno aka Nyako Pilot made headlines in Kenya for the better part of 2023.
Nyako is the female version of Andrew Kibe. She recently said Kibe and her could vibe because he understands her craziness.
The content creator used to work as a commercial sex worker in Kenya before she relocated to Germany and found her breakthrough in the world of fame through TikTok.
“[My real name is] Rose Atieno. Nyako came from the street. I used to be a prostitute; that is where the name came from. From the ‘Njeris’, they gave me that name,” Nyako said in an interview with Vincent Mboya.
Asked if she felt ashamed for saying she used to be a prostitute, Nyako said she could not change her past. She added that her past made her who she is today.
“I cannot run away from my past. I can only change what I do now but I cannot run away from my past because my past made me who I am today,” Nyako said.
Even though she is known for her vile tantrums, Nyako has made a positive impact this year by fundraising to help former Citizen TV journalist Andrew Mbugua and TikToker Brian Chira amid their financial challenges.
Bernice Saroni
US-based businesswoman-cum-TikToker Bernice Saroni dominated headlines in Kenya mostly because of her fierce defence of single mothers.
Saroni helped Edday Nderitu and her three children relocate to the US when she fell out with her husband Mugithi singer Samidoh after he eloped with UDA-nominated Senator Karen Nyamu.
The mother of four boys was drawn into Samidoh/Edday/Karen Nyamu relationship dramas for standing with the musician's estranged wife.
In November, Bernice made headlines again after her relationship with Obinna came to light.
Both Bernice and Obinna broke their silence about dating albeit without directly confirming that they are indeed a couple.
Edday Nderitu
Edday Nderitu and her three children relocated to the US in early May 2023.
The mother of three was hosted by Bernice Saroni at her house in Boston, Massachusetts for months before she moved into her own abode.
Even as she settled in the US, Edday continued making waves in Kenya with her marital woes as Karen Nyamu kept a firm hold of her estranged husband Samidoh.
On July 22, 2023, Samidoh's estranged wife said in a post on social media that she was not in a polygamous marriage, adding that she had left her husband to 'whoever needed him more'.
"Lemmie clarify few things that were shared online and not accurate…… I am not in any polygamous marriage as stated I left the husband for whoever needed him more," Edday's statement on Facebook read in part.
Lupita Nyong'o
Lupita Nyong'o is arguably the most successful Kenyan diaspora celebrity. She has been dominating headlines for the better part of 2023 because of her feats in Hollywood.
However, in November this year, Lupita made headlines after she was character-developed by her ex-boyfriend Selema Masekela.
While announcing her breakup with Masekela, Lupita revealed that their relationship was embroiled in a web of deception that she could not stand.
"I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, “Whatever, my life is better this way.” But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love," Lupita shared.
"I hope it’s true… I share this to keep it 100%, and I hope that the knowledge of my experience might be useful to someone else out there experiencing the grip of heartbreak who is poised to try and escape from the pain and miss out on the wisdom that comes from it," she added.
