Popular forex trader and social media personality Kenyan Prince has drawn sharp criticism after telling followers that anyone earning less than Ksh50,000 a month should abandon dreams of luxury.
“If you’re earning less than Ksh50,000 a month and that’s what you want to depend on for the rest of your life, then forget about driving a GLE, forget about owning 33 cars, because according to him, the only thing you’re waiting for is d£ath,” he said during a livestream that has since gone viral.
The blunt statement has provoked debate across Kenyan social platforms, with many condemning the apparent insensitivity and tone-deafness given the country’s unemployment and wage challenges.
Critics argue such remarks trivialise the economic struggles of ordinary citizens and promote a narrow definition of success tied purely to conspicuous consumption.
Economic analysts responding to the controversy say the comment reflects broader anxieties about inequality and the lure of quick wealth in online trading subcultures.
“High-return trading narratives often exaggerate outcomes and underplay risk,” noted an economist who preferred anonymity.
Experts warn that glorifying extreme lifestyles without context can encourage reckless financial decisions among young, impressionable followers.
Supporters of Kenyan Prince counter that his comment was intended as tough love: a provocation to spur ambition and encourage income diversification.
Still, civil society groups urged public figures to exercise restraint, stressing the need for messaging that acknowledges structural barriers to prosperity.
The episode underscores the responsibility of influencers in shaping financial behaviour. Regulators and consumer-protection advocates have repeatedly called for clearer guidance and education on investment risks.
For now, the debate continues online, refracting wider national conversations about opportunity, responsibility and the cost of chasing status symbols.
Calls for balanced discourse and investor education are expected to grow in coming days.
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