Someone asks, “HOW DID RAPHAEL TUJU ACCUMULATE A LOAN OF KSH. 2 BILLION?”
Let me help you understand because we are all aware Raphael Tuju is not a fool or a stupid person. He is a victim of circumstances. I will use my example.
Before the launch of generative AI, those of us with reputable writing accounts could make way above Ksh. 500, 000 consistently every month. That’s why nilikuwa nanunua magari kama njugu. My friends bought Subarus. We were “YOUNG AND RICH” 
When that money comes in consistently every month, you assume it will always be there. I assumed NIMEFIKA.That’s why I could borrow Ksh. 1 million without thinking twice because I knew I would pay it back in less than three months.
From 2016 to 2021, I made money. I paid all my debts on time. I bought cars. I had a driver. I never boarded matatus. My first born was born in MONEY. My son had all the toys boys could desire.
I used to live the typical middle-class LIFE. I was a baller. FLYING WAS FIRST CLASS IN KQ. Ungeniona JAMBO JET hapo Niko frustrated. My presence in every room I went to could be felt. Nilikuwa na KIBURI PRO MAX
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.Around 2022, Generative AI happened. The income of above Ksh. 500K drastically reduced to Ksh. 300K. I started struggling to meet my financial obligations.
And the reduction was slow and steady. By 2023, I had come down to Ksh. 150, 000-200, 000 na ikaanza kucheza hapo. Still, this was good money, but I could not meet all my obligations well.
For the first time, I saw auctioneers at my door. But the money was still good. I never allowed any of my assets to be auctioned. I reduced my expenditures and paid debts to try to protect my assets. As I paid this, I delayed paying my workers.
KUMBE HIYO NDIO MASAA NILIFAA KUUZA KASHAMBA KANGU NA GARI MOJA. But I believed I could protect my assets. The income did not improve.
In 2024, I had land and cars with no money (ASSET RICH AND CASH POOR). I lifted up my hands, sold one of my cars, and surrendered to the economy. I started investing in other things instead of paying debts.
NILIKUBALI SIWEZI LIPA HIYO PESA. Mwenye anataka pesa akuje nimpee gari.
Someone took me to small claims court. I never attended court. I just said, “WACHA AFANYE VILE ANAFIKIRIA.”
2025 was the year I flattened everything else and started operating on my income. Anyone who owed me could execute or auction whatever they wanted because I had valuable assets with no cash.
That’s when I knew CASH WAS KING.
In 2026, I started the year fully conscious that I live in a struggling economy. I now handle Ksh. 1M more carefully than I did in the past. This economy has helped me understand things I never knew.
On TUJU’s case, I am sure he accumulated this debt knowing very well he was in government and could pay it. A man of his stature cannot borrow with the intention of not paying back.
But he is not in government now. His business projects failed just like any other business can fail. He can’t pay back Ksh. 2 billion. HE DID NOT FORESEE THIS. I understand him.
The only thing he hasn’t done is to SURRENDER like I did. Because kama uko na deni ya watu LAZIMA ULIPE. If you have assets, and you have no means of paying it back, SURRENDER THE ASSETS. Don’t be too protective.
Hizi mali ni za dunia. Tulizaliwa tukazipata hapa, na bado tutakufa tuziwache. LET AUCTIONEERS TAKE IT IF YOU CAN’T PAY BACK.
One lesson you should learn from TUJU and I is that YOUR INCOME IS NOT PERMANENT. BUSINESS CAN FAIL. BUSINESS CAN CHANGE. Use your money carefully. You may not make that kind of money tomorrow.
And most importantly, if you can avoid borrowing, AVOID IT. Because you will borrow with good intentions, but your income might dwindle, and you might not pay it back. Those who borrowed and successfully built big businesses GAMBLED. Don’t engage in that gamble blindly.
