Two uncles of the late Brian Chira have broken their silence following reports of TikTokers urinating and smoking weed at his gravesite during his burial.
In an interview with Nairobi News, they expressed their disappointment at not being able to give him a proper send-off.
Brian’s uncles also shed light on the hidden struggles he faced, mentioning his preference for online communication and his withdrawal from family gatherings after disclosing his HIV status.
“We faced many challenges growing up, and we were embarrassed by some of Brian’s actions. His behavior was unacceptable, and even today, there was a lack of respect. We yearned for peace, but it was elusive. His funeral lacked dignity; TikTokers took over, which wasn’t what we desired. Despite our efforts to keep certain people away from the grave, they forced their way into the compound,” they lamented.
Describing Brian as talkative and generous, they noted that he concealed his struggles.
“He seemed stressed, but he never openly showed it. He shared his challenges online, which indicated his suffering. He preferred phone communication over face-to-face interaction,” they added.
One of the uncles mentioned not seeing Brian’s coffin after viewing his body at the Kenyatta University mortuary.
“Brian used to visit us regularly when he came home from school, but after revealing his HIV status, he began to distance himself from many family members and skipped gatherings. We mostly saw him on TikTok. It was a significant change from the Brian we knew,” they said, requesting anonymity.
Chira was laid to rest on Tuesday, March 26, at his grandmother’s ancestral land in Gitei village, Gathanje, Kiambu County.
