A bizarre incident in Machakos has left residents talking after a man popularly known for his striking resemblance to American rapper Rick Ross claimed that his famous beard was allegedly burned by a friend while he slept at a local club.
John Kyalo, whose thick beard had earned him admiration and the nickname “Rick Ross” among friends and locals, said the shocking incident happened during a night out with acquaintances. According to Kyalo, he had fallen asleep at the entertainment spot before waking up to pain and discovering that parts of his beard had been burned.
“I trusted him like a brother. I never thought someone could do this to me,” Kyalo said while narrating the ordeal.
Photos circulating online show Kyalo before and after the incident, with many social media users expressing shock at the dramatic transformation. In earlier photos, the Machakos man is seen proudly spotting the long, full beard that had become his trademark and attracted widespread attention.
Kyalo claims the beard made him popular in social circles, with many people — especially women — frequently comparing him to the famous American rapper.
“People used to call me Rick Ross because of my beard. It was part of my identity,” he lamented.
The incident has since sparked mixed reactions online, with some users sympathizing with the victim while others turned the bizarre ordeal into a topic of humor and memes.
Kyalo is now demanding justice, insisting that the alleged act was intentional and emotionally devastating. The suspect has not publicly responded to the accusations, and it remains unclear whether the matter has been formally reported to authorities.
The strange incident is now among the latest viral human-interest stories capturing attention across Kenyan social media platforms.
