BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

Kenyans celebrate the well-prepared #GitheriMan voter

  • Published
    10 August 2017
Share page
About sharing
'GitheriMan' standing in a queue with a bag of Githeri (cooked beans)Image source, Unknown
Image caption,

The man known only as 'GitheriMan' has been widely talked about in Kenyan media.

Sherie Ryder
BBC News

As Kenya digests the results of this year's election, a photo of a man queuing to vote holding a bag of Githeri has emerged on social media, providing some light relief during tense times.

Githeri is a traditional meal of boiled maize and beans, also known as mutheri, which is filling, nutritious and cheap.

Since the hashtag #GitheriMan was created, there have been more than 43,000 posts and even an appeal , externalto find the mystery man carrying what appears to be his lunch.

A widely-circulated photo of First Lady Margaret Kenyatta queuing to vote in Nairobi, was one of the first to be photoshopped to include Githeri Man offering her his food. Several other digitally-altered images put Githeri Man alongside two US presidents, Kim Kardashian, the Justice League and others, as collected by entertainment and lifestyle website SDE, external.

NTV Kenya, external picked up on the trending hashtag, and soon posted their own attempt at the meme, adding Githeri Man alongside their presenters on their break.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post by NTV Kenya

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post by NTV Kenya

The Kenyan afro-pop band Sauti Sol also included him in their line-up.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post 2 by SAUTI SOL 😂🐱😎😝

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post 2 by SAUTI SOL 😂🐱😎😝

You might also like:

  • Why people believe the myth of 'plastic rice'

  • One man, four wives: The new hit reality TV show

  • Beauty queen wearing gloves at orphanage 'not racist'

As his popularity has grown, Githeri Man has been photoshopped into a series of iconic photographs from history and popular culture, ranging from the image of senior US officials, external watching the mission against Osama bin Laden, to President Trump's meeting with Pope Francis.

Much talked-about television series Game of Thrones did not escape the meme-fest. Julie, external tweeted out a character holding out two bags of Githeri.

Tweeted photo of President Trump meeting the Pope in May 2017 - with #GitheriMan superimposed between themImage source, Original photo via Osservatore Romano
Image caption,

President Trump and Pope Francis has not escaped the #GitheriMan meme

Some people assumed the man is hard up, but as Thomas pointed out on Chris Kirwa's instagram post, external, he was prepared for a long and hungry wait in the queue.

On the same post, Simon lobbied to send Githeri Man on holiday after he has "united Kenyans across political divide and brought a sense of humour during the tense election period".

There have been offers of more food, with one baker offering to "appreciate #GitheriMan with a cake, external."

Several tweets suggest people are 'quick to judge' that he might need help. For example, @StanleyMejah, external tweeted: "It's amazing how people determine what a person lacks by how he dresses and what he eats #GitheriMan".

A Jamaican DJ, external called the assumption that Githeri Man needs his life fixing was "arrogant," adding: "He's probably happier than most people here."

After a widespread search, Githeri Man has been found, according to Teddy Eugene of The African Voice radio.

His name is Martin Kamotho, aged 41, who works as a cleaner in the county government of Nairobi.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post 3 by The African Voice

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post 3 by The African Voice

However, with the issue of electoral fraud and fear of violence prominent in Kenya, some have been quick to point out, external those "obsessed" with #Githeriman makes them "worry about this great nation's priorities."

Written by BBC UGC and Social News team, with additional help from BBC Monitoring

More on this story

  • Kenya poll credible, say foreign observers

    • Published
      10 August 2017
    An Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official opens a ballot box at a polling station in Kiboro Primary School, in the Mathare slums of Nairobi on August 8, 2017,
  • Kenya country profile

    • Published
      4 July 2023
    Map of Kenya
  • Uhuru Kenyatta: Kenya's 'digital president'

    • Published
      27 November 2017
    Kenya's president-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta looks on on October 30, 2017

Top stories

  • US lawmakers release Epstein 'birthday book' with alleged Trump note

    • Published
      3 hours ago
  • Mandelson 'called Epstein best pal' in birthday message

    • Published
      1 hour ago
  • Rayner's replacement will show which way political wind is blowing in Labour

    • Published
      2 hours ago

More to explore

  • Anastacia: Arnold Schwarzenegger made me sing Whatta Man 12 times

    Anastacia, wearing a denim jacket, tinted glasses and a bandana on her head.
  • 'Visa threat' on illegal immigration and 'warring princes'

    The front page of the Financial Times and Daily Mail.
  • Why has the French PM had to go and what happens next?

    Prime Minister Bayrou before his speech to parliament
  • New Epstein files and 'birthday book': What we know

    Jeffrey Epstein standing in front of his private plane
  • 'I'm angry. It's not right' - locals want asylum hotels shut, but are shared houses the answer?

    Mandy - a woman with blond hair, gold earrings and black-rimmed glasses. She is wearing a dark-green sweater. She is standing on a street.
  • 'He put his hand down my tights': Sexual harassment widespread among barristers, review finds

    Eve during her interview
  • Why Shabana Mahmood's appointment could mean harder line on immigration

    Shabana Mahmood, walking down Downing Street, smiling and wearing a blue blazer.
  • Huge drugs bust reveals battles on cocaine 'superhighway'

    A designed composite image of Irish rangers on the outside deck of the cargo ship, MV Matthew, with coastline in the background, and two small bags of cocaine powder on the right. The colour scheme is partly green and orange to signify the Irish flag.
  • I haven't lived with my husband for 15 years - we're still happily married

    A woman with sunglasses on sitting on a chair
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    US lawmakers release Epstein 'birthday book' with alleged Trump note

  2. 2

    First photos of site where NZ bushman hid children released

  3. 3

    Best and worst-performing NHS Trusts in England named

  4. 4

    'Visa threat' on illegal immigration and 'warring princes'

  5. 5

    Mandelson 'called Epstein best pal' in birthday message

  6. 6

    Graham Linehan: I don't regret my online posts

  7. 7

    'I'm angry. It's not right' - locals want asylum hotels shut, but are shared houses the answer?

  8. 8

    Vape ban isn't working, says waste firm boss

  9. 9

    Rayner's replacement will show which way political wind is blowing in Labour

  10. 10

    Anastacia: Arnold Schwarzenegger made me sing Whatta Man 12 times

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • Zara McDermott explores the dark side of Thailand

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise
  • Andy Zaltzman's topical panel show returns

    • Attribution
      Sounds
    Friday Night Comedy: The News Quiz
  • A galactic concert of planets and lightsabers

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    The Planets and Star Wars at the Proms 2025
  • Listen to Sherlock Holmes’ greatest cases

    • Attribution
      Sounds
    Sherlock Holmes Short Stories: The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.