“Broke in Nairobi or Broke in Mind?” Murugi Munyi Sparks Firestorm After Gikomba Hustle Talk

Lifestyle influencer Murugi Munyi has set Kenyan social media ablaze after making blunt remarks about poverty, opportunity, and mindset in Nairobi — comments that have split opinion and reignited the never-ending hustle debate.

Murugi, who recently celebrated buying a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350d, has long framed her journey as evidence of what consistency, creativity, and grit can achieve within Kenya’s booming digital economy. From her early days on Ebru TV to becoming one of the country’s most recognisable lifestyle creators, her rise has inspired thousands — but her latest words have rubbed some the wrong way.

From TV screens to soft life

Known for her bubbly energy and brutally honest storytelling, Murugi has never shied away from revisiting her past. However, during a recent interview, she struck a nerve when she questioned why some Nairobi residents constantly complain about being broke despite what she described as abundant income opportunities in the city.

The Gikomba story that reignited the debate

To back her point, Murugi revisited her much-talked-about Gikomba hustle days. She recalled buying denim jackets for as little as KSh 30, washing them, adding Ankara designs, and reselling them for KSh 1,500 to KSh 2,000.

According to Murugi, that chapter shaped her belief that financial growth is driven largely by mindset, ambition, and willingness to start from the ground up.

“I’ve been on the streets, on the ground. I would wash the jackets, add Ankara, and sell them at a profit,” she said.
“Sometimes when someone says they’re broke in Nairobi, I wonder if it’s really about opportunity or mindset.”

She added that her desire for a comfortable life forced her to think differently about money.

Internet erupts: privilege or perspective?

Unsurprisingly, the comments triggered a storm online.

Critics accused Murugi of being out of touch with today’s harsh economic realities, citing rising living costs, limited capital, unemployment, and shrinking opportunities. Others pushed back on the Gikomba example, arguing that once second-hand clothes are washed, their resale value often drops — and that not everyone has access to the same markets, timing, or networks.

Still, many came to her defence, saying she was simply sharing a personal experience, not dismissing systemic challenges.

Some netizens felt her wording around poverty was insensitive, while others agreed with her core message: that creativity, hustle, and risk-taking can open doors — even if luck and circumstance also play a role.

The bigger Nairobi money conversation

Murugi’s remarks land at a time when conversations around money and Nairobi’s cost of living are already heated. In December 2025, rapper Dyana Cods revealed that the lowest rent she ever paid in the city was KSh 40,000, a period she described as financially draining.

She added that her current expectations are far higher, noting that she now considers KSh 250,000 per month a reasonable standard — even though she currently lives more modestly.

As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: in Nairobi, money talk is never just about cash — it’s about mindset, access, timing, and the thin line between inspiration and insensitivity.