Kenyan Woman in UK: Stop Comparing Your Wealth With Other Kenyans Abroad

A Kenyan woman living in the UK has urged members of the diaspora to stop comparing their financial progress with that of others, warning that such comparisons can lead to unnecessary debt and stress.

Sara Jebororioh, who has lived in Britain for several years, said Kenyans abroad often begin their lives in the diaspora under very different financial circumstances.

Some migrants leave Kenya after their families make significant sacrifices to finance their journey, including selling property and household belongings. Their first years abroad may therefore be focused on repaying debts, sending money home and rebuilding their families’ finances.

Others arrive with financial support from well-off families that can cover education and living expenses. This can allow them to direct more of their earnings towards personal goals and investments.

Jebororioh said these differences are often overlooked when people compare themselves with other members of the diaspora. Pressure to match the lifestyles of others, including through property development, remittances or visible investments, can lead people to borrow or spend beyond their means.

“Sometimes abroad isn’t the problem. Comparison is,” she said, warning against pursuing appearances at the expense of individual financial priorities.

She also questioned the expectation that Kenyans living abroad should build homes for their parents as a measure of success. While such projects are widely celebrated, she said they should not be treated as a universal standard.

“Some people don’t have to build a house for their parents because their parents already have one,” she said. 

Others may instead be saving for education, investing their money or working towards financial stability in their host countries. Jebororioh’s views are also shaped by her own circumstances. When she was asked where her “skyscraper” was, she said her immediate priority was making sure her son had enough to eat.

“As long as my son is not sleeping hungry, that’s enough for me,” she said.

Her message challenges the assumption that moving abroad automatically leads to wealth. She encouraged Kenyans in the diaspora to live within their means and pursue financial goals at their own pace.