Kenyan social media has once again lit up with drama, this time sparked by an unexpected Instagram follow. What seemed like a harmless digital mishap quickly escalated into a fiery online exchange between businesswoman Anerlisa Muigai and socialite Vera Sidika all thanks to a now-viral phrase: “she nephew.”
It all began when Anerlisa explained that she had followed several Kenyan and Tanzanian celebrities by mistake. According to her, the accidental follows were made by her young nephew, who was using her phone. In a now-deleted post, Anerlisa claimed, “I saw she [my nephew] had followed almost every celebrity in Kenya and Tanzania.” Realising the error, she swiftly unfollowed all the accounts.
While some fans took her explanation lightly, others questioned the logic particularly the use of the phrase “she nephew,” which instantly caught the attention of online audiences. Vera Sidika wasn’t one to let it slide. Though she didn’t name names, she posted pointed Instagram stories poking holes in Anerlisa’s statement.
“When you lie, you always contradict yourself. Ati nephew then says she followed. Was it a boy or a girl?” Vera asked. “When did we start having she nephews? AMA ni rainbow colours?” She further questioned how quickly a friend could’ve noticed the accidental follows if Anerlisa had unfollowed people “within seconds.”
The public quickly took sides. Some defended Anerlisa, calling Vera’s response unnecessarily harsh. Others accused Anerlisa of overreacting by blocking Vera and giving an implausible excuse for such a minor incident.
Meanwhile, the term “she nephew” exploded online, turning into a trending meme. Social media was flooded with jokes like “Is ‘rainbow nephew’ a new Instagram feature?” and “She nephew is now a new gender.”
As the feud fizzled out, one thing was clear: in Kenya’s celebrity world, even the smallest slip can trigger big drama and sometimes, a viral meme.
