The kissing bandit says he has pecked more women than Mandela

John Telewa aka (kissing bandit) kisses Avril

Kenya’s most popular kisser has said he has smashed world’s icon Nelson Mandela’s record.

John Telewa, who refers to himself as the Kissing Bandit, told The Nairobian that by August 11, he had kissed 3,995 women.

He said even though Mandela – fondly referred to as Tata in South Africa – met and kissed many people in his adult life, they may not have reached 3,000.

In 2011, the Kissing Bandit started a journey to kiss a million people on earth so he could earn a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

He has so far kissed many prominent people such as Kiss FM presenter Caroline Mutoko.

But this is where Mandela beats Kenya’s hardcore kisser: Madiba could possibly be the person who has kissed the most important people on earth from, the Queen of England, supermodel Naomi Campbell, American pop star Beyoncé Knowles, the late Princess Diana, Cuba’s former President Fidel Castro, American broadcaster Oprah Winfrey, former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the late John Pope Paul, among others.

The most controversial was when he kissed the beautiful Indian actress Shabana Azmi in New Delhi, India in 1993 inviting the wrath of India’s conservative Hindu and Muslim culture that frowns on smooching in public.

The other unfortunate thing about Kenya’s Kissing Bandit is that he will not get to kiss the world’s most revered leader, Mandela.

The former South African President died on December 5 aged 95.

  “Unlike me, he was an influential leader and President which gave him chance to kiss many people than me. He only kissed the people he met in greeting, but for me it is a course I am taking to get to be in the Guinness Book of World Records,” said Telewa.

 Telewa, 28, is a freelance graphic designer and video editor.