Kenya’s 'Man of the World' decries lack of support from gov’t ahead of pageant

Bruce Matheka, a 29-year-old model is set to represent Kenya in the ‘Man Of The World’ pageant competition that will be held in the Philippines starting June 5, 2023.

Matheka, who has had a 10-year-long modelling career told Citizen Digital that many people in Kenya are yet to embrace the male modeling industry.

“When you talk about modeling in Kenya, many people have the village mentality. They do not understand. They think that modelling is for ladies,” Matheka says.

Ahead of the ‘Man Of The World’ pageant, he narrates the challenges he has faced in seeking support from relevant government offices.

“I have been judged for being LGBTQ or being gay for being a male model as I have gone to look for sponsorship.  The people responsible in the government offices do not understand what being a male model entails.”

He says his dream is now in limbo as he is unable to raise the funds required to travel to Manila, Philippines.

“This is something I have worked for in 10 years. I want to be the first African man to win an international pungent. You can imagine a Ministry telling you they do not have a budget of 380k,” Matheka says.

His financial appeal to the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Tourism was rejected for unknown reasons.

He now wants Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to intervene on the matter as the future of the Kenyan modeling industry lies with his participation.

“If I fail to show up for the competition, our licenses will be revoked. So for the next five years, Kenya will not participate for the Man Of The World pageant. So this will be a blockage to the future models that have an ambition to go and represent Kenya.”

Other than modelling, Matheka identifies as active member in the society running advocacy projects that work closely with deaf persons.