American YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is James Stephen Donaldson, recently released a video showcasing the drilling of at least 40 boreholes in Kenya as part of his mission to provide clean water in various African countries.
YouTuber Mr. Beast has dug 52 wells, constructed a bridge, and provided computers to schools in Kenya. 👏🌍 pic.twitter.com/IfClOHUcP0
— Adam Maina ™ (@AdamMaina_) November 4, 2023
With over 207 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, MrBeast claimed to have built a total of 100 boreholes across multiple nations, including Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Somalia, and Cameroon. These boreholes are expected to provide clean water access to over 500,000 people.
In Kenya, MrBeast’s borehole projects were located in Meru County and Elgeyo Marakwet County, situated several hundred kilometers from the capital, Nairobi. His philanthropic efforts garnered significant attention on social media, with “Mr Beast” becoming a top trending topic on X (formerly Twitter) in Kenya. The public response highlighted the contrast between MrBeast’s swift actions and the perceived inaction of elected leaders.
Social and political activist Boniface Mwangi regarded MrBeast’s philanthropic endeavors as a “wake-up call” for political leaders who may not be prioritizing the needs of their constituents. Isaac Mwaura, the Kenyan government’s spokesperson, indicated the need for verification of MrBeast’s claims before providing an official response.
We are a shameful, horrible country. Every five years we give newly elected members of parliament, and senators a Sh5 million car grant, fuel those cars every month but we have no money to drill boreholes for our people? We are a begging nation governed by multimillionaires. https://t.co/HpTIdGHq5c
— The People’s Watchman (@bonifacemwangi) November 5, 2023
While MrBeast documented his borehole projects in videos, independent verification of the number of boreholes and their financing remains pending. In response to potential criticism, MrBeast expressed his commitment to using his YouTube channel to inspire and assist others.
MrBeast is the second-most-followed YouTube account globally, according to Forbes, with 207 million subscribers, trailing behind India’s T-Series. As of August 2023, Celebrity Net Worth estimated his net worth at $100 million. MrBeast’s YouTube journey began with content related to YouTube intros, eventually evolving into daring challenges, such as counting large sums of money and participating in lengthy video-watching marathons. He has employed childhood friends and founded Beast Philanthropy, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to addressing issues like hunger, homelessness, and unemployment through social media fundraising efforts.