KenyaOnAShoeString: Real Advice for Real Kenyans

Financial discipline often means making tough choices—choosing public transport over car ownership, skipping luxuries to build a savings cushion, or postponing vacations to secure a home. The journey can feel isolating, frustrating, and sometimes even discouraging, especially when peers seem to be enjoying a more carefree life. In these moments, having a personal mantra—a simple, powerful phrase—can help center your mindset, reinforce your ‘why,’ and keep you focused on the bigger picture. Here are some mantras to guide you through different aspects of financial sacrifice and goal-setting. 1. For Choosing Public Transport Over a Car “Every sacrifice has a purpose. Every saved shilling builds my future. My journey may be crowded, but my destination is clear.” When matatu chaos makes you question your decision, this mantra reminds you of the bigger picture. Every shilling saved on fuel, insurance, and maintenance moves you closer to financial security. Your journey may be tough, but the ...

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...