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What Are We Saving Our Lives For?

I am always late for work. There. I've said it. And the frustrating thing is that my lateness isn't caused by traffic or some unpredictable morning disaster. Most of the time, it is entirely my own doing. I wake up and make my coffee. Then I get back into bed, which is right by the window, cross my feet, face the window and slowly sip my coffee. And when I say slowly, I mean slowly. I look at the trees. I watch the birds. I feel the morning sun on my skin. Sometimes I just sit there with my thoughts. I really love these mornings. I've also noticed something else. When I give myself enough time in the morning, my body usually does what it needs to do. A slow morning often leads to a bowel movement, which, as far as I'm concerned, is one of the must-haves of starting my day. And so I find myself wishing for more time. More time to sit. More time to drink my coffee. More time to maybe get outside and do some yoga or mat Pilates on the grass while the sun is stil...
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12 Lies Kenyans Tell Each Other About Adulting (And The Painful Truths)

"Life ni kujipanga." That’s what they told us. That if you just plan well, work hard, and stay disciplined, everything will fall into place. But here you are—fully grown, fully stressed, and realizing that no amount of ‘kujipanga’ prepares you for the rent that ambushes you like an exam you forgot about. Turns out, adulting is a never-ending group project where everyone is faking it, and the biggest scam? The lies we tell ourselves to keep going. Let’s break them down, one painful truth at a time. "Once you finish school, life will be smooth!" Reality: You will apply for 100 jobs, get ghosted by 95, get 3 interviews where they ask for 10 years of experience for an entry-level role, and the other 2 will pay you exposure and lunch. Smooth, indeed. "If you work hard, you will succeed." Reality: If you work hard and know the right people, and have luck, and don’t fall sick, and are willing to fight tooth and nail, maybe you will succeed. Otherwise, some ...
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Just Wait Till We Are Diamond: The Kenyan Hustler’s Guide to Avoiding MLM Delusions

If you’ve ever been invited to a ‘business opportunity’ meeting at Java by an overly enthusiastic friend promising financial freedom, congratulations! You’ve had a brush with Multi-Level Marketing (MLM), the modern-day version of being sold a dream wrapped in ‘hard work’ and Bible verses. The book Just Wait Till We Are Diamond details the harrowing journey of a child being groomed into MLM life, sacrificing normalcy, relationships, and childhood in pursuit of a rank that’s just one more motivational meeting away. Sounds familiar? It should. Because as Kenyans, we’ve been fed similar illusions of success , not just by MLMs, but by society, motivational speakers, and even our own culture of blind hustle. Let’s unpack this and find real, Kenyan solutions that work. Lesson 1: “Your Success Is in Your Hands” (But Is It, Though?) One of the biggest MLM tactics is making you believe that success is 100% within your control . If you fail, it’s because you didn’t work hard enough —not because ...
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Why Western Money Advice is Useless in Kenya & What Actually Works

If you've ever listened to those "financial gurus" on YouTube or read self-help books by some big-shot American entrepreneur, you've probably come across all sorts of money advice that sounds smart—but makes absolutely zero sense in Kenya. If you’ve ever tried to implement this advice, you know it ends in premium tears. So, let’s break down the worst of these myths, why they don’t work here, and what actually makes sense for us, hapa Kenya. 1. "Save 6 Months’ Worth of Expenses Before Quitting Your Job" Why It’s Nonsense in Kenya: Let’s be honest, even saving one month’s expenses is a miracle for most Kenyans. The cost of living is skyrocketing, your salary is barely enough, and unexpected expenses (hospital bills, school fees, black tax) will finish your savings faster than you can say hustler fund. What Actually Works: Instead of waiting until you have a mythical six-month cushion, start building multiple income streams while still employed . Even a small s...
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The Great Kenyan Home Ownership Madness: Dreams vs. Reality

Owning a home is a big dream for many Kenyans, but somewhere along the way, practicality has been thrown out the window. Too many people, driven by childhood aspirations or societal expectations, are constructing massive houses only to end up living like misers within them. Let’s break down why this trend makes little sense and what smarter, more sustainable homeownership looks like. The Harsh Reality of Owning a Big House in Kenya Many Kenyans, especially those who grew up in humble backgrounds, grew up being told to “dream big.” Unfortunately, this has translated into building unnecessarily large houses, often with rooms that remain unused, multiple verandahs gathering dust, and massive balconies that no one actually sits on. These houses cost millions to build, yet within a few years, the owners are struggling to maintain them, regretting their choices as they pour more money into renovations. If you need proof, just look at how many old houses in Nairobi remain unsold. No one wants...
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Daniel Arap Moi — The Shadow and the Shepherd: A Deep Dive into Kenya’s Second President

If Jomo Kenyatta was the founding father, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi was the long-reigning stepfather — sometimes protective, often punitive, and almost always enigmatic. He ruled Kenya for 24 years, the longest of any president to date. To some, he was the gentle teacher, Mwalimu , who kept the nation from tearing apart. To others, he was the architect of a surveillance state, a master of patronage and fear, the man who perfected repression through calm. This is a portrait of Daniel Arap Moi — not just as a ruler, but as a man shaped by modest beginnings, colonial violence, and the hunger for order in a chaotic time. Early Life: The Boy from Sacho Daniel Arap Moi was born on September 2, 1924, in Kurieng’wo, Baringo, in Kenya’s Rift Valley. He came from the Tugen sub-group of the Kalenjin community. His father died when he was just four. Raised by his uncle, Moi’s early life was marked by hardship, discipline, and deep Christian missionary influence. He trained as a teacher at Tambach ...
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Know Thyself: The Quiet Power of Naming Your Nature

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” — Carl Jung We live in a culture that equates good intentions with goodness, and ambition with ability. But very few people in Kenya—or anywhere—truly know what they are made of. We can name our qualifications and our dreams. But ask someone their vices or virtues, and they hesitate. Worse, they lie. The Danger of Self-Unawareness In Kenya today, many of us are wandering through life making choices—big, small, and irreversible—without truly understanding who we are. We end up in jobs we despise, relationships we shouldn’t be in, or positions of influence we aren’t emotionally or ethically equipped for. And at the root of this dysfunction is a simple truth: we don’t know ourselves. This is not a spiritual or abstract dilemma. It’s a deeply practical one. To know oneself is to understand your vices, your virtues, your weaknesses, and your strengths—not in a vague sense, but in detail. Let’s ge...
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