The Shared Struggle For Financial Freedom We’re All Facing As Kenyans: Let Us Not Give Up

My Fellow Kenyans, I hear you, my brother, my sister. The weight on your shoulders is real. You wake up every day and look at your bank balance like it’s a joke. “Can you hear me, M-Pesa?” you ask, but no reply comes. The debts are there, staring you down like a hungry lion waiting to pounce, and all you have is a pocketful of promises. If only wishes could pay bills, right? But you don’t need anyone to tell you that things are rough—everyone feels it. We’re all caught in the same storm, drenched in the same downpour.

It’s that time of the year again when the “family” hits you with their endless requests. School fees, medicine, the cousin’s wedding—everybody is looking at you like you’re a walking ATM. Yet your bank account looks more like a desert than the lifeline it’s supposed to be. You’re scrambling to cover basic needs, and don’t even get me started on trying to save for the future. Let’s be real, we’re all just trying to make it to the end of the month without falling apart. But, let me break this to you: You are not alone. Trust me, the whole nation is holding its breath along with you.

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I know it’s tempting to look around and wonder how everyone else is doing it. Social media will have you believe that everyone is living their “best life,” but let me tell you—behind those posts, people are just as lost and as broke as you are. They’re just better at pretending. We’re all drowning in mounting debt, joblessness, and the ever-hungry government policies that seem determined to crush us. From the high cost of living to the foreign interests interfering with our economy, the deck is stacked against us. Gender-based violence, social inequality, and unemployment are the daily struggle for many of us. But I’ll tell you this: It’s not the end of the road.

Don’t let the pressure steal your peace. If the system is failing us, then we must rise up and rebuild it. The truth is, politics in Kenya is the backbone of everything that affects us—our finances, our homes, our futures. This is the time to shake off the complacency and realize that we have power. Power, not in isolation, but together. We need to be part of the political process, not as passive spectators, but as active participants. We must stop sitting in the shadows, waiting for someone else to change things. That someone is you.

We are a nation founded on hope, and as we face the daunting challenges of debt, unemployment, and government ineptitude, we must keep our faith. Faith in our ability to change things. Faith that we can pick ourselves up from rock bottom, because believe me, many have done it. Don’t ever forget that the same God who brought you this far will not leave you stranded now. He will provide, but you need to keep moving. It’s easy to get disheartened, but remember: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” So, dream again. Dream of a better future and work towards it.

It’s easy to blame the politicians, the system, the foreigners, and everyone else. And you know what? They deserve some blame, but they’re not the whole story. You are the story. What you do with your circumstances will determine your future. So don’t just complain, take action. Reach out to those who have walked this road and learn from them. There’s wisdom in the struggle. It’s the tough times that shape us, not the easy ones. You’ve heard it said that iron sharpens iron—well, sometimes you need to be the iron that sharpens itself.

Stand tall. Take that first step, even if it’s small. Stop waiting for a miracle; you’re the miracle you’ve been waiting for. “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” The time has come for all of us to stand together and rebuild the systems that have long abandoned us. No more waiting. The world might be cold and indifferent, but our spirit—our unity—is strong. We must embrace the political process, because when we do, we change the game. We vote, we speak out, we demand better, because no one else will do it for us.

And yes, we may face setbacks. Yes, the road is long, and sometimes it feels like we’re going in circles. But remember this: The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and each step forward is a victory. Do not measure your success by the failures of today. Look at the bigger picture. How far have you come? What have you learned? The answers to those questions will fuel your next move.

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We may feel like we’ve given up on securing our financial futures, but that doesn’t mean we’ve given up on ourselves. Look around—every struggle has its lesson. And when the dust settles, we will have rebuilt something far stronger. If our politics determine our economy, then let’s get involved and make sure our voices are heard. We must turn this situation around—together. We have no choice but to rise.

So yes, it feels impossible now, but remember: It’s the darkest just before the dawn. The light is coming. And while the fight is tough, you are tougher. Hold on to your faith, your family, and your dreams. Hold on to each other. When you’re down, reach up, and when you’re up, reach back. We are not alone in this struggle.

The government, the economy, the system—they are all reflections of the people. If we change, they change. If we rise, we make them rise. Our voices matter, our votes matter, and together, we will bring about the change we’ve long awaited. There is no turning back now. Let’s fight. Let’s rise. Let’s take care of each other. Because when we rise, we all rise. Keep going. Never give up. The future is ours to build.

The future is ours to build, and there’s no better time than now to start laying the foundations for it. Yes, the road ahead is uncertain, but don’t let fear paralyze you. If we’ve learned anything from history, it’s that change doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect moment—it comes from seizing the moment we have. We’ve seen this before: small movements, humble beginnings, but with a collective will, we’ve turned challenges into triumphs. Whether it’s through standing up against oppressive policies or advocating for fair economic opportunities, we’ve made a difference in the past, and we can do it again.

If we look at the numbers—how many of us are unemployed, how many struggle to make ends meet, how many are suffocated by debt—it’s clear that we are a nation in crisis. But here’s the thing: We are also a nation of survivors. Despite everything, we’re still standing. Despite everything, we’re still fighting. And while it may seem like we’re running on empty, there’s one thing that will never run out: our resolve.

If we let the weight of our struggles crush us, then we give up on the future. And that’s not an option. The poverty, the unemployment, the inequality—they’re not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They represent real people—our mothers, our fathers, our children, our neighbors. It’s time to stop treating these issues as statistics and start treating them as our call to action. Every injustice, every hardship, is an opportunity for us to rise, for us to organize, for us to demand the respect we deserve.

I know that many of us have been through more than we can handle. We’ve sacrificed our health, our time, and our peace of mind for the sake of survival. But the time for mere survival is over. It’s time for us to thrive. It’s time to move beyond just getting by and start creating the future we deserve. And that future begins with us—individually and collectively—taking responsibility for what happens next. This isn’t just about money; it’s about dignity, respect, and the future we want for our children.

We can no longer afford to be passive observers. We must engage in every aspect of our society. From politics to business to community development, we need to be the change agents we’ve been waiting for. Our vote is our voice, and it’s time to make it heard. When the next election comes around, we can no longer afford to sit back and hope for someone else to do the right thing. We must demand accountability, transparency, and fairness from those in power.

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And don’t let anyone tell you that your voice doesn’t matter. You might be a single individual in a sea of millions, but your voice—your actions—carry weight. A single drop of water can start a ripple that spreads across an entire lake. Every action, no matter how small it may seem, contributes to the larger movement for change. So don’t underestimate the power you have to shape the future of this nation.

Let’s stop complaining about the government’s failures and start holding them accountable. We cannot continue to be passive in the face of corruption and mismanagement. The government works for us, not the other way around. Our taxes, our votes, our participation—they’re what keep the wheels of this country turning. When we stop showing up, when we stop demanding better, we allow mediocrity to thrive. We’ve had enough of that.

We also need to start looking after each other. The strength of a nation is not measured by the wealth of its individuals, but by the unity and solidarity of its people. Let’s reach out to one another, not just in times of crisis, but every day. Let’s support local businesses, create opportunities for each other, and build a community where no one is left behind. Our collective success depends on the success of those around us.

So, take a moment, breathe, and remind yourself that you’re not alone. We are all in this together. It’s easy to feel isolated when things are tough, but the truth is, there are millions of people just like you, fighting the same battles. And if we stand together, we can turn the tide. Together, we have the power to push for the changes we need, to create the opportunities we deserve, and to secure a future for ourselves and for the generations to come.

Your struggle, your fight, is not in vain. Every step you take today will bring you closer to the future you want. Don’t give up, don’t lose hope. Rise up and demand better. Together, we can—and we will—make a difference. Never forget that.

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