“If you are earning a salary of Ksh 50,000 a month, the only future you have is death.”
The words, spoken by online personality Kenyan Prince during a recent livestream, have set off fierce debate across Kenya. Harsh as they sound, many young professionals say the statement reflects a daily reality of rising costs and stagnant wages.
Kenyan Prince, who has built a following with his blunt remarks on money and success, presents himself as a forex trader and trainer. His critics call him provocative. His supporters say he is only voicing the frustrations many dare not speak aloud.
For 29-year-old Janet Mwende, who works in customer care and lives in Umoja, the comment rang uncomfortably true. “I earn Ksh 52,000,” she said. “After rent, transport, food, and helping my younger siblings, there’s nothing left to save. I’m surviving, not living.”
The arithmetic is sobering. In Nairobi, a modest one-bedroom flat can take up to half that income. Add food, transport, and fuel, and there is little room for savings or emergencies.
Figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that more than 65 percent of workers earn below Ksh 60,000 a month. For many, survival depends on side hustles—weekend vending, online freelancing, or driving part-time taxis.
Economic analyst James Mburu told us the problem is structural. “The cost of living has climbed sharply, but salaries have not moved in years,” he said. “A wage that was considered decent five years ago is now barely adequate.”
Still, not everyone agrees with the bleak outlook. Financial coach Muthoni Gichuhi believes discipline and planning can stretch even a modest income. “You can still build wealth,” she argued. “It demands sacrifice, investment, and a long-term mindset.”
The viral remark has done more than provoke laughter or anger online. It has exposed a generation educated and connected, but financially squeezed. For many, Ksh 50,000 no longer means security. It means a race against time.
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