Azziad Nasenya, Eric Omondi And Lulu Hassan Top List Of Most Admired Celebs By Gen Z

• TikTok star Azziad Nasenya, comedian Eric Omondi and Lulu Hassan led the list of most admired celebrities by Kenya’s Gen Z in a nationwide survey
• Raila Odinga topped the political figures, with President William Ruto and MP Babu Owino also gaining favour among the youth
• The survey highlighted a shift towards social media careers, with most Gen Zers aspiring to fame and considering influencing a reputable career

A recent nationwide survey has highlighted the preferences of Generation Z in Kenya, showcasing a significant admiration for local celebrities and a strong inclination towards social media as a career path.

Which public figures do Gen Zers admire?

The survey, which collected responses from 1,300 young adults aged 18 to 27, placed TikTok sensation Azziad Nasenya at the top of the list of admired celebrities, followed by comedian Eric Omondi.

News anchor Lulu Hassan and singer Otile Brown were also among the favourites, securing the third and fourth spots, respectively.

When it comes to political figures, Azimio leader Raila Odinga emerged as the most admired figure, with President William Ruto and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino following suit.

Tiktok, blogging and other career choices

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Martha Karua completed the top five political personalities.

The growth of social media has influenced career aspirations among the youth, with 75% expressing a desire to achieve fame and considering being a TikToker, blogger, or influencer as a legitimate and admirable career.

That said, entrepreneurship ranked as the top career aspiration, with many aiming to be self-employed or to run their own businesses.

Traditional professions such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, and office jobs came in third.

However, the ongoing doctors’ strike and its perceived mismanagement affected the aspirations of 22% of Gen Zers, who now have diminished hopes of pursuing opportunities in the medical field.

Gen Z on relocating abroad

Notably, the survey by Odipo Dev, a research and development firm, and Africa Uncensored, an independent investigative media, revealed that four out of 5 Gen Zers would ditch Kenyan for foreign countries if the opportunity arose.

Of those who wanted to relocate, 80% chose the US as their preferred destination, with 60% opting for Europe.

Australia also ranked high on the list, with a notable number of respondents looking to settle in Asian countries or within East Africa but outside Kenya.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke