Two Benzes, a Land Cruiser & parcels of land: The Bahatis’ controversial ‘gifting’ culture

Local celebrity couple Kevin Bahati and Diana Marua’s extravagant gifts to each other are too good. Too good, and too publicized, that Kenyans are having a hard time believing that they are even real.

The couple’s antics started in 2018, during his 25th birthday. Diana 'surprised’ him with a Ksh.15 million Range Rover, something she would later admit was a hoax after Kenyans poked holes in how the whole thing was orchestrated.

In September 2018, it was reported that Bahati had gifted Diana a fully-furnished house.

“Blind folded and surprised her with a new home; a fully furnished house - Don't cry Mama Heaven it's just a small gift I bought to show you how much I love you & our family, ” he said in a now-deleted Instagram post.

According to Diana, that “was by far the best day of my life.”

In October 2020, Diana ‘almost fainted’ after Bahati spoiled her with a brand new GL class Mercedes-Benz, which retails at around Ksh.9 million.

This was in celebration of their wedding anniversary.

“​​Receive this Mercedes W205 Specifically for Dropping the Kids to School When they Don’t feel Like Using the School Bus; I Love You,” he said.

Enter Valentine’s Day in 2021. Diana gifted Bahati a brand new Mercedes-Benz Maybach valued at around Ksh.20 million. This one was real, she told fans.

According to the reality TV star, she had saved (and prayed) for two years to graduate from surprising her man with a hired car to actually buying one for him.

"... I proclaimed, believed, and trusted God that one day, I'll gift you a car under your name. God answers prayers, this is my Testimony. Two years later, I proudly gift my hub with a Brand New Mercedes Benz, the Newes baby under #The Bahatis" she wrote on Instagram at the time.

“I do so many things, my Youtube Channel is one of the biggest channels that is watched worldwide you know so I make my own money and I'm proud unajua I have gone out of my way nilisave,” she protested.

“My king deserves also the best. I am happy I proved to the world that you know what, I can also get out there, hustle, and do something for the man that I love." 

During this year’s Valentine’s Day celebrations, the lovebirds hit the headlines yet again after Bahati flew Diana in a chopper to present her with a fully-furnished mansion.

“​​I am the happiest woman on earth right now!” said Diana.

The house was just a culmination of a series of gifts the ‘Mama’ singer had lined up for his bae during the month of love, coming just days after he gifted her a Toyota Land cruiser Prado TX worth around Ksh.10 million.

“Just a small Valentine's gift to my wife,” he called it.

Before that, he had bought her a parcel of land to build her dream home.

These ‘small’ gifts, fully videotaped for the couple’s YouTube channels and photos for their ‘grams, are what Kenyans online seem to have lost trust in.

One Twitter user, @tarus_caleb, wrote: ​​”I just look at Diana and Bahati and I realize that clout is a dangerous disease.”

“Bahati has bought Diana Marua a fully furnished house barely days after he gifted her a new Land Cruiser Prado TX.  It is either music is paying or they have upped their clout chasing game,” said user @osorojnr_.

Whether you believe it or not, the couple seems not to care and their followers just have to wait to see what the ‘power couple’ have in store for them.

“You have not because you ask not,” says Diana on her Instagram bio, along with a praying-hands emoji.