On the 25th of the month, Brian opened his M-Pesa app and stared at the balance for a few seconds. He wasn’t waiting for money to come in. He was trying to understand where the money that had come in three weeks earlier had gone. His salary was not particularly small. Rent had been paid….
The loan officer looked at James and then looked back at the computer screen. “So, you have been running the business for how long?” “Almost four years.” “And the business is doing well?” “Yes. We have grown quite a bit.” James had come to the bank feeling confident. He wanted financing to buy another vehicle…
The Month She Finally Asked Where Her Money Was Going “Surely I should have some money left.” That was the thought that crossed Akinyi’s mind one Friday evening as she checked her M-Pesa balance. Her salary had come in less than three weeks earlier. Rent had been paid. She had sent money to her mother,…
On the evening of the 25th, James opened his M-Pesa app for the third time that day. He had been paid earlier in the month. The rent had gone out. He had sent money home, cleared two bills, bought groceries and paid his loan instalment. Nothing unusual had happened. Yet the balance on his phone…
“Most Kenyans don’t fear taking a loan. They fear hearing the words, ‘Uko kwa CRB.’” Introduction: The Phone Call James Never Expected James, a 32-year-old electrician in Nakuru, had every reason to believe his loan would be approved. His business had grown steadily over the previous three years. He had secured contracts installing electrical systems…
The Machine Was the Opportunity — and the Problem The quotation was sitting on Brian’s desk. KSh 3.4 million. That was the price of the machine his small manufacturing business needed. For months, his customers had been asking for larger orders. He knew there was demand. He also knew his existing equipment was already being…
On a Thursday morning, Brian opened his phone because he needed money urgently. His small hardware shop had been doing reasonably well, but a supplier had given him an opportunity he did not want to miss. A particular batch of fast-moving stock was available at a good price, and he knew that waiting until he…
At 6:45 one Monday morning, Mary was standing inside her small hardware shop in Thika, looking at an empty section of the shelves. The previous week had been unusually busy. Contractors had bought cement, plumbing materials and several boxes of fittings. By Saturday afternoon, some of her fastest-moving products were almost finished. Normally, this would…
At 7:30 on a Friday evening, Brian was staring at his phone. His salary had come in earlier that week, but the excitement of payday was already gone. Rent had taken its share. So had the loan repayment. His daughter’s school had sent a reminder about the balance for the term. He had also sent…
It was the week before schools reopened when James realised that he had a borrowing decision to make. His daughter’s school fees were due, his small hardware shop needed more stock, and the car had developed a problem that could not be ignored. He had money coming in, but not enough at the same time…
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