KenyaOnAShoeString: Real Advice for Real Kenyans

"It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable." — Molière I. The Promise of Profit Everywhere you turn in Kenya today, someone is encouraging you to invest. From financial influencers on TikTok to WhatsApp investment groups to that uncle who now owns three plots in Nanyuki — the message is loud and clear: "Don’t let your money sleep. Put it to work." We are living in the age of the investor. From TikTok to Telegram groups, from SACCO WhatsApp circles to finance podcasts, everyone seems to be an expert on how to grow your money. Bonds. Land. Money market funds. Buy shares. High yield apps. Crypto. Build apartments. Flip land.  And it sounds harmless. Who doesn’t want financial freedom, passive income, or generational wealth? But in our race to grow money, a hard question lurks in the shadows: Do we know where our money goes once we invest it? Do we care who or what it hurts on its way back to us as profit? II. A Brief H...

In Kenya, inheritance is a mystery novel with missing pages. Parents buy land, build businesses, invest in property, but when you ask about the future, suddenly, it's 'God’s plan.' The same parents who struggle day and night to provide will let their children battle through terrible jobs instead of integrating them into family businesses. Why? The Kenyan Parent’s Mindset: “I Suffered, You Must Suffer Too” If you ask many Kenyan parents why they don’t teach their children about their businesses—whether it’s a successful dairy farm, a well-stocked kiosk, or a thriving matatu business—the answer is often, “Si mimi nilianza na zero, hata wewe utaanza na zero.” Translation? “I started from nothing, so should you.” This suffering Olympics mindset is why many Kenyans graduate straight into struggle while their parents have assets that could cushion them. Farming is for ‘Shamba Boys’ but Not Their Children Take a family that owns acres of farmland and makes a solid income from far...

Religion is a powerful force in Kenya. It shapes our values, our work ethic, and even our politics. But somewhere along the way, we’ve been fed a twisted version of faith—one that glorifies suffering, discourages critical thinking, and keeps people broke. Let’s talk about how religion, especially in business, has been misused to keep us poor and stupid, and what we can actually do about it. The Prosperity Gospel Scam: Pray, Pay, Prosper? You’ve probably seen it: pastors rolling in brand-new SUVs, wearing designer suits, while their congregants walk home barefoot after giving their last KES 200 to “plant a seed.” The prosperity gospel tells people that if they tithe more, God will bless them financially. Yet, the only ones getting rich are the pastors. Meanwhile, the faithful remain in financial struggle, waiting for miracles instead of making smart money moves. The Reality: Giving 10% of your income to a church while struggling to pay rent won’t make you rich. God does not operate like...