Outrage after Russian man secretly records encounters with Kenyan women,
A Russian national known as Yaytseslav has ignited widespread fury across social media after being accused of covertly filming intimate encounters with women in Nairobi and other African cities, then distributing the footage online without their permission.
The controversy erupted over the past day as clips surfaced showing him approaching women in public spots like streets, malls, and even a church in Roysambu, Nairobi, where he struck up conversations, offered compliments, and quickly persuaded them to accompany him to his rented apartment. Short teasers appear on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, while subscribers pay a fee via his private Telegram channel to access extended versions of these recordings.
Speculation has centered on how the videos were captured discreetly, with many pointing to wearable technology like Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which allow hands-free recording. In one notable clip, Yaytseslav is seen interacting with Bishop Edward Mwai at a mega church before convincing a female congregant to leave with him. The women, ranging from young shoppers to workers and even a mother, often seem initially reserved but quickly warm up, leading to private interactions that he films secretly. While the encounters appear consensual on the surface, the hidden filming and subsequent sharing have been condemned as clear violations of privacy and consent.
Kenyans and others online have expressed intense outrage, demanding the man's arrest and accountability, with prominent voices highlighting the predatory nature of exploiting trust for content and profit. Commentators have criticized not only Yaytseslav's actions but also the victim-blaming that has emerged in some discussions, stressing that agreement to intimacy does not equate to permission for recording or public exposure. Experts have warned of broader implications from such "manfluencer" behavior, including the misuse of technology to erode women's autonomy in public spaces, as companies like Meta reiterate that their devices are not intended for harmful privacy invasions.
