Kennedy Matiba Orioba, aka Babushka, has made a name for himself as a TikTok dancing sensation, wowing viewers with his unique dance moves and positive energy.
His viral dance videos, featuring celebrities like Lulu Hassan and Moya David, have gained millions of views on social media platforms.
Despite being differently abled, the Kisii University law student has amassed over 800,000 followers on Tik Tok, a feat that has earned him brand endorsements from several companies in Kenya.
His hard work, vibrant energy, and positive outlook inspired his fans so much that one of them gifted him a brand-new car.
This is his journey as told by WoK:
Background
Kennedy Orioba, aka Babushka, hails from Moheto Village in Migori County. As the firstborn in a family of two siblings, he was motivated to pursue a law career by his neighbors.
They believed that a profession like law, which didn’t require extensive mobility, would be the best fit for him. Following his high school education, he enrolled for a law degree program at Kisii University.
His passion for law was further fueled by his fascination with the work of judges, politicians, and other ‘learned friends’ in the legal field.
He particularly admires Siaya Governor James Orengo, a renowned lawyer, and aspires to become an advocate of the high court to represent the rights of differently-abled citizens.
Babushka
Speaking in an interview on KTN, Orioba disclosed that the name Babushka was inspired by renowned pop star Asap Rocky, who sometimes goes by the nickname Babushka Boy.
“To be unique, I decided to pick the name and become the Kenyan Babushka,” he says.
According to him, Babushka means Green, which implies boldness. This boldness perfectly reflects his unique appearance and personality, and he embraces it with pride.
He says his parents are very supportive although they didn’t know that one day he would be on national television.
He credits them for being proud of him and exposing him to opportunities, unlike other parents who hide their disabled children.
Talents
Babushka is not just a dancer; he is a multi-talented content creator. He can act, dance, perform acrobatics, engage in public speaking, and make surprise appearances
One of his achievements is being the brand ambassador of over 10 companies in Kenya, where he is paid to promote their products and services.
With over 840,000 TikTok followers and more than 200,000 on Instagram, he has his sights set on reaching one million TikTok followers by the end of the year.
In appreciation of his efforts, he recently bagged the Kenyan Influencer of the Year Award, cementing his status as a social media sensation.
Aside from this, he has won various dancing competitions on TikTok, the most recent being a cash prize of Ksh 30 000.
Recently, in appreciation of his compassion and kindness, he was gifted a car by Chacha De, a gospel musician and one of his most ardent followers.
The TikToker is in his early 20s, and he says owning a vehicle at such a young age is a huge achievement.
Babushka has also made significant strides in his dating life. His love story with Artnie, his girlfriend, has been widely shared on social media.
In interviews, he explained how Artnie respects and treats him well, despite being 5 years his elder.
In turn, Artrine said that Babushka is a gentleman and she does not care about what people think about their relationship.
