Thread by @cheruiyotkb

Family gatherings discuss everything else but finances. That uncle who took your certs & a badly written CV many years ago & went mute is no longer the richest among you. The renegade brother whom everyone loves to hate is richer. All are too proud to ask him how he did it. >>

Nobody knows that sassy sister Suzzy owes her brand new Mazda to a Mubaba. Her salon business can't guarantee that, at least not now. Kimani is lost in thoughts suffering in private, thinking of the loan cash he lost to land scammers last month. His daughter Jeni sat her KCPE. >>

Njenga raises the subject of repainting the faded iron sheets, replacing the old furniture and digging a new pit latrine to replace the one that'll fill soon. All eyes turn to Sofia, the first born. She's good with planning. She promises to form a WhatsApp group. >>

Everyone gladly agrees, pleased to put these issues behind them, for now. Samuel snores throughout these discussions. Everyone knows he's hanging onto his clerical job at Public Works by a thread over his love for the bottle. His wife took the children to her folks in Mweiga. >>

Githu, a teacher, has been telling them about a table banking idea for the family. They all seem to agree on everything else - contributions, dates, dividend sharing - but who's getting first. Njenga's son needs Sh 50,000 for a good laptop for his college project. He begs. >>

Kimani's money misfortunes are well known. The many times he's sought bailouts from his siblings over "deals gone wrong" are legendary. His daughter Jeni is joining Form 1. His wife doesn't give a hoot. He asks to get first & promises to make amends with money. >>

Suzzy rises up to leave. Samuel wakes up with a start. He can't miss the lift to Thika. It will be a week before his wife & kids come back. His gachungwa at Witeithie wants her time, and his money too. He took a loan to develop a Mang'u plot, he says. For the umpteenth time. >>

Tomorrow the remaining ones will disperse to their selves in the city. They meet again next year. To discuss the same issues. Meanwhile, the old folks will have to do with the fading iron sheets, old furniture and filled-up pit latrine unless Sofia does something. #HappyHolidays

Mjivinjari hizi holidays lakini msisahau Masterclass ya @TheAbojani from January 9th. Kujeni m-upgrade skills zenu kuhusu personal finances na investments kupitia Zoom for three weeks. Early bird offer expires 31/12/22.