American YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, recently published a video detailing his construction of 100 wells across Africa, which has elicited a nuanced response. Some Kenyan activists criticized the video for inadvertently highlighting the failures of the Kenyan government to provide clean water access to its citizens. However, Donaldson’s efforts also raised over $300,000 for local water aid organizations through an accompanying fundraiser.
While activist Boniface Mwangi drew comparisons between Donaldson swooping in and the Kenyan government’s inaction despite taxes, journalist Ferdinand Omondi found it embarrassing that a foreign YouTuber performed tasks that should have been addressed by Kenya long ago. Saran Kaba Jones of African water NGO FACE Africa applauded raising awareness but cautioned about sustainability without proper well maintenance.
Donaldson anticipated backlash for helping people but said he doesn’t care about being canceled and will continue using his massive platform to provide aid. However, aspiring politician Francis Gaitho suggested the video perpetuates African dependence on “handouts.”
With over 200 million YouTube subscribers, Donaldson has built a billion-dollar empire through philanthropic videos, though some find them exploitative. He maintains he aims to inspire helping people, while critics argue both his style and the reaction reveal complex post-colonial dynamics.
