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How Mwangi Githinji, a security guard in Old Town, Mombasa, lives on KES 16,400 a month
Mwangi Githinji, 51 — Security guard in Old Town, Mombasa, raising 3 children.
Every term opening is a crisis — fees are found, but always at a cost.
Earns: KES 16,400 per month. Housing: KES 9,020 rent.
Kitchen — KES 2,720/month
| Unga (maize flour) | KES 370 |
| Rice & pasta | KES 180 |
| Sukuma/mboga (mama mboga) | KES 230 |
| Milk & tea leaves (daily chai) | KES 600 |
| Sugar | KES 110 |
| Cooking oil | KES 200 |
| Meat/omena/eggs | KES 470 |
| Bread & breakfast | KES 200 |
| Fruits | KES 120 |
| Salt | KES 30 |
| Matchbox | KES 20 |
| Spices & royco | KES 10 |
| Gas refill (6kg cycle) | KES 180 |
Utilities — KES 660/month
| KPLC tokens | KES 380 |
| Water bill | KES 210 |
| Garbage collection | KES 70 |
Connectivity — KES 190/month
| Airtime & okoa | KES 80 |
| Data bundles | KES 110 |
Transport — KES 1,260/month
| Matatu/boda fares | KES 690 |
| Kids school transport | KES 570 |
Family — KES 2,930/month
| Diapers & baby care (under-4s) | KES 870 |
| School fees (2 kids, public + extras) | KES 1,540 |
| Uniforms, books & school snacks | KES 310 |
| Kids clothes & shoes (mitumba cycle) | KES 210 |
Personal — KES 230/month
| Barber | KES 30 |
| Clothes & shoes (mitumba) | KES 130 |
| Toiletries & grooming | KES 70 |
Health — KES 150/month
| SHIF/NHIF | KES 150 |
Social — KES 280/month
| Church/Mosque offering & harambee | KES 90 |
| Black tax (money home) | KES 190 |
Debts
| Fuliza — overdraft | revolving | KES 800 |
Short every month by KES 1,040.
- Tap Kitchen → it accounts even the 20-bob matchbox and the salt.
- The daily chai habit is itemized: ~600/mo on milk & tea leaves alone.
Home setup: family bed + decker bed for the kids.
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A member of the Fanikiwa AI Community — 1,000 real Kenyan lives, itemized down to the matchbox. Figures are representative community data. Fanikiwa is money coaching for Kenya, Africa and beyond — not licensed financial, tax or legal advice.
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