Editing Ajib Gathoni

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{| class="infobox" style="width:22em; font-size:90%; text-align:left; border:1px solid #aaa; background:#f9f9f9; float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em;"
|+ style="font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; background:#cedff2; text-align:center;" | Ajib Gathoni
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Ajib_Gathoni.jpg|250px|alt=Ajib Gathoni|Ajib Gathoni]]
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; font-size:smaller;" | Ajib Gathoni in 2025
|-
! style="background:#cedff2;" colspan="2" | Background information
|-
! Birth name
| Ajib Gathoni
|-
! Born
| 1 June 1999 (age 25)<br>Mombasa, Kenya
|-
! Genres
| Afrobeat dance<br>Contemporary dance
|-
! Occupations
| Dancer<br>Content creator<br>Entrepreneur<br>Brand influencer
|-
! Years active
| 2017–present
|-
! Known for
| Viral TikTok dance videos<br>Pulse Influencer Awards<br>Random Wear clothing line
|}

'''Ajib Gathoni''' (born June 1, 1999) is a 25-year-old Kenyan dancer, content creator, entrepreneur, and brand influencer whose vibrant TikTok dance videos have captivated over 1.4 million followers by June 2025.<ref name="pulselive_bio">{{cite web |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/ajib-gathoni-clocks-1-million-followers-on-tiktok/9cp9059 |title=Ajib Gathoni Clocks 1 Million Followers on TikTok |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Pulse Live Kenya |date=2023-08-10}}</ref> Known for her Afrobeat and contemporary choreography, she’s won the Pulse Influencer Award for Best Dancer in 2021 and 2022.<ref name="pulselive_bio"/> As CEO of Random Wear, a fashion brand co-founded with her former partner Josh Wonder, Gathoni has built a name in entrepreneurship.<ref name="thefamousnaija">{{cite web |url=https://www.thefamousnaija.com/2022/12/ajib-gathoni-biography-age-pictures.html |title=Ajib Gathoni Biography, Age, Pictures, Boyfriend |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=The Famous Naija |date=2022-12-07}}</ref> Her journey from a banking job to global fame, coupled with her advocacy for women’s health after a 2024 adenomyosis diagnosis, has made her a role model for Kenyan youth.<ref name="tukotalks">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_46_fEawGi0 |title=Tuko Talks: Ajib Gathoni on Dance and Quitting Her Job |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Tuko TV |date=2023-05-20}}</ref> Living in Nairobi, her story is one of resilience, cultural pride, and navigating public scrutiny following a scandalous 2023 breakup with Josh Wonder and his relationship with her friend Kendi Christine.<ref name="pulselive_breakup">{{cite web |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/tiktoker-ajib-gathoni-confirms-break-up-with-josh-wonder/7k9m2p3 |title=TikToker Ajib Gathoni Confirms Break Up with Josh Wonder |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Pulse Live Kenya |date=2023-03-28}}</ref><ref name="nairobi_kendi">{{cite web |url=https://nairobiwire.com/2024/01/josh-wonder-kendi-christine-address-criticism.html |title=Josh Wonder and Kendi Christine Address Criticism for Relationship |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Nairobi Wire |date=2024-01-18}}</ref>

== Early Life ==

Born in Mombasa, Kenya, on June 1, 1999, Ajib Gathoni grew up in a blended family with a Digo father and Kikuyu mother. Her father’s polygamous household fostered harmony, shaping her community spirit. “My dad showed me family can be big and still tight,” she shared.<ref name="ghafla">{{cite web |url=https://www.ghafla.co.ke/ke/2024/10/02/ajib-gathoni-expresses-admiration-for-her-polygamous-father/ |title=Ajib Gathoni Expresses Admiration for Her Polygamous Father |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Ghafla Kenya |date=2024-10-02}}</ref> Raised Muslim, she embraced Christianity after her parents’ separation.<ref name="ghafla"/> Her love for dance bloomed through church and school events in Mombasa.<ref name="whownskenya">{{cite web |url=https://whownskenya.com/ajib-gathoni-biography-background-education-career-and-relationship/ |title=Ajib Gathoni Biography and Career |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Who Owns Kenya |date=2024-03-05}}</ref>

Gathoni attended Chania Girls High School in Thika, graduating in 2017, then studied networking at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).<ref name="storyzote">{{cite web |url=https://storyzote.com/ajib-gathoni-biography-age-tribe-real-name-and-education/ |title=Ajib Gathoni Biography: Age, Tribe, Education |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Story Zote |date=2023-11-12}}</ref> Her family’s 2019 move to Nairobi was pivotal: “Nairobi was daunting, but it became my canvas,” she said.<ref name="pulselive_nairobi">{{cite web |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/how-ajib-gathoni-turns-fear-of-nairobi-to-success/7x2p3q4 |title=How Ajib Gathoni Turned Her Fear of Nairobi into Success |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Pulse Live Kenya |date=2024-07-29}}</ref> A banking job felt stifling, pushing her to dance full-time.<ref name="tukotalks"/>

== Career ==

=== Rise to TikTok Stardom ===
Gathoni’s social media journey began in 2017 on Instagram with Mombasa’s Exodus Hype Movers crew.<ref name="thefamousnaija"/> TikTok, joined during the 2020 lockdown, was her breakthrough: “I was bored and curious,” she recalled. Her Afrobeat dances hit 1.4 million followers and 48.3 million likes by June 2025.<ref name="tukotalks"/> A Kizz Daniel “Buga” video, reposted by the artist, went viral with 3.8 million views.<ref name="thefamousnaija"/> Her TikTok (@ajibgathoni) blends choreography and fashion, celebrating African culture.<ref name="famousbirthdays">{{cite web |url=https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/ajib-gathoni.html |title=Ajib Gathoni: Age, Family, Bio |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Famous Birthdays |date=2024-12-01}}</ref>

=== Content Creation and Advocacy ===
Her videos, from dance challenges to lifestyle, resonate widely. “Dance is my voice,” she told Larry Madowo on *The Trend*.<ref name="thetrend">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ufFR-6UoMI |title=Ajib Gathoni on The Trend with Larry Madowo |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=NTV Kenya |date=2023-09-17}}</ref> Facing trolling, she emphasizes resilience: “It’s tough, but I stay true.”<ref name="tukotalks_female">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSj4gZu2nN4 |title=Tuko Talks: Female Content Creators in Kenya |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Tuko TV |date=2024-02-10}}</ref> Her Instagram (@ajib_gathoni) has 300,000 followers, and her solo YouTube channel grows.<ref name="ntvkenya">{{cite web |url=https://ntvkenya.co.ke/news/tiktoker-ajib-gathoni-hits-1-million-followers/ |title=Ajib Gathoni Hits 1 Million TikTok Followers |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=NTV Kenya |date=2023-07-25}}</ref> Her 2024 adenomyosis diagnosis spurred health advocacy: “Sharing my pain helps others.”<ref name="nairobi_health">{{cite web |url=https://nairobinews.nation.africa/why-ajib-gathoni-25-plans-forced-menopause/ |title=Why Ajib Gathoni Plans Forced Menopause |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Nairobi News |date=2024-09-15}}</ref>

=== Entrepreneurship ===
As CEO of Random Wear, launched in 2021 with Josh Wonder, Gathoni sells trendy outfits, modeling them herself.<ref name="fashonation">{{cite web |url=https://fashonation.com/ajib-gathoni-fashion-inspirations-biography-and-boyfriend-outfits/ |title=Ajib Gathoni’s Fashion and Biography |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Fashonation |date=2024-01-20}}</ref> Post-breakup, she leads the brand, popular among youth. Endorsements with Safaricom, Coca-Cola, and CeraVe contribute to her KSh 5–10 million net worth.<ref name="homekazi">{{cite web |url=https://www.homekazi.co.ke/celebs/bio/ajibgathoni |title=Ajib Gathoni’s Biography and Net Worth |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Homekazi |date=2024-06-01}}</ref>

=== Media and Public Speaking ===
Gathoni appeared on *The Sandwich Podcast*, *Tuko Talks*, and *The Wicked Edition* with Dr. King’ori.<ref name="sandwichpodcast">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMiHTYeoU74 |title=Ajib Gathoni on The Sandwich Podcast |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=The Sandwich Podcast |date=2023-03-05}}</ref><ref name="wickededition">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7hsE3Ps6bY |title=Ajib Gathoni on The Wicked Edition |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=NTV Kenya |date=2023-04-12}}</ref> Her 2020 TEDxYouth@Nairobi talk, “My Dance Journey,” inspired youth: “Dance is my therapy.”<ref name="tedx">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuiwuXslags |title=Ajib Gathoni’s TEDx Dance Journey |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=TEDx Talks |date=2020-11-20}}</ref>

== Personal Life ==

Ajib Gathoni, 5’4” (163 cm), lives in Nairobi, known for bold hairstyles and fashion, including a striking back tattoo.<ref name="famousbirthdays"/><ref name="fashonation"/> A Christian, she credits faith: “God keeps me grounded.”<ref name="sandwichpodcast"/> Her family stays private, though she admires her polygamous father.<ref name="ghafla"/> Likely single as of June 2025, Gathoni’s March 2023 breakup with Josh Wonder, a TikToker and Random Wear co-founder, was scandalous. Their “couple goals” status, built on joint content, crumbled when Josh alleged on TikTok Live and in interviews with Eve Mungai that Gathoni cheated with a friend and gym trainer, and tried evicting him from their shared home by altering the tenant agreement.<ref name="pulselive_breakup"/><ref name="mpasho_scandal">{{cite web |url=https://mpasho.co.ke/entertainment/2023-04-16/josh-wonder-spills-on-ajib-gathoni-breakup/ |title=Josh Wonder Spills on Ajib Gathoni Breakup |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Mpasho |date=2023-04-16}}</ref> “I paid rent and handled everything,” he claimed.<ref name="ctonemedia">{{cite web |url=https://ctonemedia.co.ke/nasty-breakup-ajib-gathoni-humiliated-by-josh-wonder/ |title=Nasty Breakup: Ajib Gathoni Humiliated by Josh Wonder |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Ctone Media |date=2023-04-20}}</ref> Gathoni denied clout-chasing: “I don’t chase fame at my name’s cost.”<ref name="vipi_clout">{{cite web |url=https://vipi.co.ke/ajib-gathoni-denies-clout-chasing-in-josh-wonder-breakup/ |title=Ajib Gathoni Denies Clout Chasing |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Vipi Kenya |date=2023-04-25}}</ref> She hasn’t addressed the cheating claims, focusing on her career.

The drama escalated when Josh began dating Kendi Christine, Gathoni’s friend and frequent collaborator on dance videos, by late 2023. Fans accused Kendi of betrayal after the pair vacationed together in January 2024, with comments like “Kendi stabbed Ajib in the back” on X.<ref name="nairobi_kendi"/> Josh countered: “I knew Kendi before Ajib; the rest is noise.” Kendi added: “I choose my friends freely.”<ref name="nairobi_kendi"/> Gathoni stayed silent, but their friendship reportedly frayed.<ref name="mtamaduni">{{cite web |url=https://mtamaduni.co.ke/ajib-gathoni-biography/ |title=Ajib Gathoni Biography and Earnings |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Mtamaduni |date=2024-04-10}}</ref> By May 2024, Josh’s new girlfriend, Ashley, defended Gathoni online, urging fans to “move on.”<ref name="nairobi_ashley">{{cite web |url=https://nairobiwire.com/2024/05/josh-wonders-girlfriend-defends-ajib-gathoni/ |title=Josh Wonder’s Girlfriend Defends Ajib Gathoni |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Nairobi Wire |date=2024-05-22}}</ref>

In September 2024, Gathoni’s adenomyosis diagnosis sparked health advocacy: “Sharing helps others.”<ref name="nairobi_health"/> Unverified sickle cell rumors lack evidence, and she’s alive, debunking 2021 death rumors.<ref name="homekazi"/>

== Comparisons and Controversies ==

Gathoni’s dance content draws comparisons to Azziad Nasenya, but they share no rivalry, both celebrating Kenyan culture.<ref name="pulselive_compare">{{cite web |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/ajib-gathoni-vs-azziad-nasenya-who-rules-tiktok/9k3m4p5 |title=Ajib Gathoni vs Azziad Nasenya: Who Rules TikTok? |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Pulse Live Kenya |date=2023-06-15}}</ref> Her collaborations with Sir Mario are amicable.<ref name="mtamaduni"/> The 2023 Josh Wonder breakup, with cheating and eviction claims, and his relationship with Kendi Christine, marked her biggest controversy.<ref name="nairobi_kendi"/> In 2022, a suggestive dance video drew backlash for being “too provocative,” but Gathoni defended it: “My dance is art, not your judgment.”<ref name="ghafla_dance">{{cite web |url=https://www.ghafla.co.ke/ke/2022/08/10/ajib-gathoni-responds-to-dance-video-critics/ |title=Ajib Gathoni Responds to Dance Video Critics |accessdate=2025-06-07 |publisher=Ghafla Kenya |date=2022-08-10}}</ref> A 2021 social media hiatus sparked death rumors, debunked by her return.<ref name="homekazi"/>

== Awards ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Award
! Category
! Year
! Result
|-
| Pulse Influencer Award
| Best Dancer
| 2021
| Won<ref name="pulselive_bio"/>
|-
| Pulse Influencer Award
| Best Dancer
| 2022
| Won<ref name="pulselive_bio"/>
|-
| Platform Best Influencer Award
| Best Influencer
| 2022
| Nominated<ref name="thefamousnaija"/>
|}

== Legacy ==

Ajib Gathoni’s rise from Mombasa to TikTok stardom inspires Kenyan youth, especially women. Her dance celebrates African culture, while Random Wear and health advocacy empower others. “Find your dance, let it speak,” she urged in her TEDx talk.<ref name="tedx"/> Her resilience amid controversies shapes a vibrant legacy.<ref name="thetrend"/>

== External Links ==

* [https://www.tiktok.com/@ajibgathoni Ajib Gathoni on TikTok]
* [https://www.instagram.com/ajib_gathoni/ Ajib Gathoni on Instagram]
* [https://randomwear.co.ke/ Random Wear Official Website]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}