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How Wanjiku Mwangi, a mjengo (construction) worker in Garissa town, lives on KES 18,000 a month
Wanjiku Mwangi, 60 — Mjengo (construction) worker in Garissa town, raising 2 children.
Every term opening is a crisis — fees are found, but always at a cost.
Earns: KES 18,000 per month. Housing: KES 7,000 rent.
Kitchen — KES 4,610/month
| Unga (maize flour) | KES 620 |
| Rice & pasta | KES 310 |
| Sukuma/mboga (mama mboga) | KES 390 |
| Milk & tea leaves (daily chai) | KES 1,020 |
| Sugar | KES 190 |
| Cooking oil | KES 330 |
| Meat/omena/eggs | KES 780 |
| Bread & breakfast | KES 330 |
| Fruits | KES 210 |
| Salt | KES 30 |
| Matchbox | KES 20 |
| Spices & royco | KES 30 |
| Gas refill (6kg cycle) | KES 350 |
Utilities — KES 660/month
| KPLC tokens | KES 380 |
| Water bill | KES 210 |
| Garbage collection | KES 70 |
Connectivity — KES 360/month
| Airtime & okoa | KES 150 |
| Data bundles | KES 210 |
Transport — KES 2,140/month
| Matatu/boda fares | KES 1,090 |
| Kids school transport | KES 1,050 |
Family — KES 2,060/month
| School fees (2 kids, public + extras) | KES 1,540 |
| Uniforms, books & school snacks | KES 310 |
| Kids clothes & shoes (mitumba cycle) | KES 210 |
Personal — KES 350/month
| Salon (braids/treatment) | KES 150 |
| Clothes & shoes (mitumba) | KES 130 |
| Toiletries & grooming | KES 70 |
Health — KES 340/month
| SHIF/NHIF | KES 170 |
| Clinic visits & dawa (kids) | KES 170 |
Social — KES 430/month
| Church/Mosque offering & harambee | KES 90 |
| Black tax (money home) | KES 340 |
Debts
| Unaitas — SACCO loan | active | KES 52,093 |
Left over each month: KES 50.
- Tap Kitchen → it accounts even the 20-bob matchbox and the salt.
- The daily chai habit is itemized: ~1,020/mo on milk & tea leaves alone.
Home setup: family bed + decker bed for the kids.
Saving toward: Business capital.
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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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