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Mkamburi Chigogo has spoken out against what she describes as a rising habit of women staging romantic gestures on social media purely to attract attention.
Addressing the issue on Monday, December 15, 2025, Chigogo criticised women who buy flowers for themselves and then claim the gifts came from men. She said there is nothing more misleading than presenting self-purchased bouquets as tokens of romance, adding that the behaviour should come to an end.
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She observed that the trend is becoming increasingly common, noting that it is easy to spot both online and in everyday life.
Chigogo was referring to a popular social media practice in which women purchase extravagant flower arrangements—particularly money bouquets—and post them online while suggesting they were received from admirers. In her view, the trend is less about genuine affection and more about seeking validation and showing off on digital platforms.
Flowers and the social media influence
Flowers, especially money bouquets, have evolved into powerful symbols of love, status and influence on social media. From upscale neighbourhoods in Nairobi to viral TikTok clips, these displays are often used to project a lifestyle image rather than to express sincere romantic feelings.
According to Chigogo, many of these bouquets are self-funded but portrayed as gifts, creating a false impression of romantic attention. As a result, online popularity and visibility have taken precedence over the true meaning behind the gesture.
The popularity of money bouquets has grown rapidly in Kenya in recent years, driven largely by celebrities and social media influencers who frequently showcase such gifts. This has inspired others to copy the trend, further blurring the line between authentic romance and performative content.
Chigogo warned that the practice encourages dishonesty and creates unrealistic expectations about relationships. She argued that staged displays diminish the sincerity of genuine romantic gestures and distort how love is perceived.
She added that the trend cuts across different spaces, from affluent areas to major online platforms, with some women using these props to project an image of being admired and valued, even when the gestures are self-created.
Her remarks come at a time when conversations are growing around the impact of social media on modern relationships. While flowers remain a timeless symbol of love, Chigogo suggested that exaggerated and staged posts have, for some, stripped them of their original meaning.
