There is a question we rarely ask ourselves with complete honesty: What do you believe—and what habits does your belief produce? Most people can answer the first part easily. They can describe their beliefs, their values, their philosophies. They know what they stand for. They can explain the principles they claim guide their lives. But the second question is much harder. Because beliefs are easy to claim. Habits are harder to hide. And it is in our habits—especially the small, ordinary ones—that our true philosophy quietly reveals itself. A belief system means very little if it does not shape the smallest habits of everyday life. Not the grand gestures. Not the moments when others are watching. But the quiet decisions that happen in ordinary settings—shared spaces, everyday responsibilities, small interactions with the people around us. How we manage inconvenience. How we treat people who cannot benefit us. How we handle situations where restraint, fairness, or consideration...
When starting a business, most entrepreneurs paint a clear picture in their minds of who their ideal customer is. But what if that image is wrong? In Kenya, a mismatch between product and market is one of the most common, yet least understood, reasons why small businesses struggle to gain traction. We often assume our audience is “the middle class” or “urban youth” without understanding who those people really are, what they can afford, or what they value. This article explores the blind spots many Kenyan entrepreneurs face when identifying their target market — and how to fix them. The Myth of the Middle Class Many Kenyan entrepreneurs believe their product or service will appeal to the middle class. But what does 'middle class ' even mean in Kenya? Most use the term loosely — assuming it means anyone who lives in Nairobi, owns a car, or shops in supermarkets. In reality, the economic lines are blurrier. Recent data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows tha...