A storm has erupted online after Vihiga Woman Representative aspirant Amakove Wala announced that she was putting her popular travel community up for sale for Sh15 million, triggering sharp reactions from Kenyans on social media.
Wala shared a post announcing that Wanderlust Diaries Ltd, a travel platform she says she has built for six years, was open for acquisition or strategic ownership.
According to her announcement, the platform includes a large digital travel community and an established brand within Africa’s tourism space.
In the post, she described Wanderlust Diaries as one of Africa’s vibrant travel communities, highlighting several achievements over the years.
She said the brand boasts over 450,000 global travel community members, a strong digital presence across multiple platforms, and partnerships within the tourism industry.
“This is a unique opportunity for an investor, travel company, media group, or tourism organization looking to acquire a ready-made global travel platform and scale it to the next level,” the post read.
She further indicated that the asking price was Sh15,000,000, inviting serious buyers to contact her directly through WhatsApp.
However, the announcement quickly went viral, drawing criticism and ridicule from many Kenyans online.
Social media users questioned how a Facebook group on Facebook could be sold for such a hefty amount.
Many users called out the aspiring politician for what they described as “audacity,” arguing that digital communities on social media platforms do not necessarily belong to individuals and therefore cannot be sold like conventional businesses.
One user wrote:
“Selling a Facebook group for Sh15 million? That’s wild. Facebook can shut it down anytime. What exactly is the buyer purchasing?”
Another commented:
“This is the most Kenyan thing I’ve seen today. A Facebook group is now real estate worth 15 million!”
Others questioned the practicality of transferring ownership of a social media community, noting that members of such groups join voluntarily and could easily leave if the group changed hands.
“Even if someone bought it, members would just exit. You can’t sell people,” another user argued.
Some critics also pointed out that most Facebook groups are governed by the platform’s policies, meaning that the ultimate control lies with the company rather than the group administrators.
Still, a few online users defended the idea, saying that digital platforms with large audiences can have significant value, particularly in marketing, tourism promotion, and influencer partnerships.
They argued that if the community is highly engaged, it could attract advertisers or travel brands.
Despite the mixed views, the overwhelming reaction online was disbelief, with many Kenyans insisting that Sh15 million is far too high a price for what they see as a simple Facebook group.
The debate has once again highlighted the growing value and controversy around digital communities and online influence in Kenya’s social media economy, where large followings can sometimes translate into business opportunities, but also spark intense scrutiny from the public.
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