Police arrest TikTok creators over dangerous roadside stunts
Police have issued a stern warning, stating that social media fame does not justify breaking the law.
Police in Pangani on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, arrested several TikTok content creators accused of harassing pedestrians and illegally filming members of the public along busy roads in various parts of Nairobi.
The suspects—mostly youths from Eastleigh—are expected to be arraigned in court and charged with assault and causing public disturbance.
According to police, the youths showed blatant disregard for their own safety and that of other road users by deliberately harassing motorists and pedestrians while recording videos, which they later uploaded to social media platforms in pursuit of views and online fame.
The group is reported to have been operating mainly along General Wariungi Street in Kariokor, as well as in Eastleigh, Pangani, and parts of Muthaiga.
Police have issued a stern warning, stating that social media fame does not justify breaking the law. Authorities emphasized that individuals engaging in illegal activities under the guise of content creation will face firm action.
Packaged as entertainment, the roadside stunts—where the youths brazenly flout traffic rules, obstruct vehicles, and provoke road users—have sparked widespread outrage online, with many calling for the dangerous behaviour to be stopped.
A young woman performs a stunt oblivious of the danger behind her
In the videos, the content creators—mostly young men and, in some cases, women—set up cameras before suddenly jumping into the middle of busy roads as vehicles speed toward them. They narrowly avoid collisions by darting off the road at the last moment. In some instances, they have been seen sitting in the middle of the tarmac, unfazed as speeding vehicles approach, only moving away seconds before impact.
The group has also been accused of provoking pedestrians, particularly women, leaving some victims visibly shaken. During these stunts, they record the ensuing chaos, laugh hysterically after each close call, and later upload the footage to TikTok in pursuit of views and clout.
In one of the more audacious incidents captured online, a young man was struck by a speeding bus near the Muthaiga underpass, leaving him injured.
“This is recklessness of the highest level. This is not content—this is crime. They are knowingly obstructing traffic, putting themselves in danger and risking the lives of motorists. It’s not just dangerous; it’s criminal,” wrote a concerned netizen on the X platform.