YouTube has terminated the widely followed channel of YouTuber Andrew Kibe, shocking his 474,000 subscribers. Every video out of the 3,000 he had uploaded was taken down, with YouTube simply stating that the account was terminated. The specifics behind this sudden action remain unclear, as Kibe has not yet commented on the situation.
The termination seems to be due to a breach of YouTube’s terms of service. Kibe, known for his candid criticisms of Kenyan celebrities and bold opinions on contemporary topics, had been a significant figure on the platform with 3.1k videos to his name. The unexpected closure of his channel led to a mixed reaction among netizens; while some expressed their dismay, others celebrated the decision. This debate pushed Kibe’s name to the top of trending topics on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.
In response to the uproar, Kibe briefly mentioned on X that he perceives this setback as a minor interruption, hinting that his content will still be produced on other platforms. The post read, “Train ili toka stenje kitambo, hizi ni kelele za chura. Time ya live ni ile ile aisay.”
Having relocated to Texas from Kenya, where he was previously a radio host, Kibe’s rise in the social media space has been meteoric. His style has drawn comparisons to British-American kickboxer Andrew Tate. He has also been involved in confrontations with various Kenyan public figures, including celebrities like Bahati, Diana, ex-Governor Mike Sonko, and other content creators.
YouTube can shut down channels for multiple reasons including recurrent breaches of community guidelines, instances of extreme misconduct, or copyright infringement claims. They allow creators to appeal such decisions, but emphasize that only one appeal should be submitted to avoid delays.