Many Kenyans today are either victims or perpetrators of cyber-bullying, knowingly or unknowingly. Thanks to increased digital penetration, more and more Kenyans are using digital social platforms to communicate and interact than ever before, especially during the current pandemic.
Diana Marua, the wife to singer Kevin Bahati, has often been on the receiving end of trolls due to her celebrity marriage and reality show. However, what many might not be aware of is that what normally starts as a joke or a meme, can easily get into the victim’s mind, eventually affecting them more than we can imagine.
Speaking on online trolls, the mother of two confessed that the negative comments would get the better her and get her emotional to the point of shedding tears.
“I remember sometime back negativity used to get to me. You know cyberbullying, people who say trash about you and I remember it got to a point when I used to cry myself to sleep. I even used to go to my hubby and tell him I cannot do this anymore,” she said.
However, just when she was about to give up, she remembered God exists and soon things began taking shape.
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“But with time, God gives you the grace because it reached a point where I said this is the life I chose and whatever I do people are going to attack me. I think the minute you walk into the light of fame, you just have to grow that thick skin and pat yourself on the back. Right?” she posed. Just recently, Diana was a subject of online pokes when she was accused of theft. A video of a lady claiming to be her friend surfaced online, with a narration that she left her items at Marua’s house but upon collection, she found out that a few pieces of her designer handbags and sandals were missing.
The woman claimed that Marua invited her to her place and she took with her a suitcase full of handbags and sandals for sale so Diana could take her pick.
“You are my high school friend, we went to high school together. I was there at your first baby shower when you were having Heaven. How do you treat somebody like trash just because you think you are a celebrity? How do you invite somebody to your house after tume have lunch, nimeacha vitu zangu, tumeongea story za biashara, even nikaji expose places mi hutoa vitu zangu because you said we are going to do business together,” she claimed in the video.
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Diana refuted the claims, wondering why she would have stolen them yet she had spent a generous amount of money on the said lady.
“I didn’t know you had a motive behind all this while you insisted to leave your bag at my compound without wanting us to confirm what it was carrying... in your 'last minute' rush. But for God's sake you mean I can stoop that low and steal two bags worth Sh1,000 each, while pesa tuu nilikulipia drinks and Uber was worth house rent Somewhere?” Diana responded.
