Controversial Kenyan blogger Cyprian Nyakundi has weighed in on the current debate over social media “cancelling,” cautioning influencers against misunderstanding the concept.
Speaking on X, Nyakundi argued that losing followers or facing public disagreement does not constitute real cancelling.
Nyakundi, who has faced multiple platform suspensions over the years, recounted his experiences with Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
On Twitter, he said more than seven of his accounts, each with over 100,000 followers, were blocked.
Even as he attempted to rebuild his presence, reports and platform restrictions repeatedly curtailed his efforts.
“The best time of my blogging was when I didn’t have social media accounts,” Nyakundi said. “I felt I became a better blogger, doing extensive research and reaching up to 100,000 readers daily through my blog.”
He added that social media sometimes wastes energy and that enduring suspensions and DDoS attacks strengthened his focus on content creation.
Nyakundi contrasted his experience with newer influencers who quickly gained followers during debates such as the finance bill but struggle to handle public dissent.
“If your influence can’t survive beyond people saying, ‘Ignore this guy, let us unfollow him,’ you are not supposed to be there,” he stated.
The blogger emphasized that being unfollowed or facing criticism does not equal being cancelled.
Nyakundi highlighted that true cancelling involves systemic platform restrictions, suspensions, or other actions that completely silence a voice online.
His statement serves as a reminder of the challenges content creators can face when navigating digital platforms in Kenya and beyond.