Ever wondered why some people seem to move forward while you’re stuck in the same place? Your own words might be the biggest roadblock. This article reveals eight common phrases that secretly hold Kenyans back from success.
We’ll break down these toxic sayings, from “It’s God’s will” to “Sijui pesa itatoka wapi,” and show how shifting your language can unlock new opportunities right here at home. Your mindset is your greatest asset.
What Makes This List
This isn’t just about grammar or being polite. We focused on phrases that create a fixed mindset, kill ambition, and are deeply woven into our everyday Kenyan conversations. These are the sayings that make us accept less, blame others, and give up before we even try. They stand out because they sound so normal, yet they quietly sabotage our hustle and keep us from taking the risks needed to grow.
1. “It’s God’s Will” (When Facing Setbacks)
While faith is central, using this phrase to explain every failure or delay removes your own agency. It turns you from an active participant in your life into a passive spectator waiting for divine intervention. Success requires strategic action, not just hopeful resignation.
In Kenya, we see this when a business fails or a job application is rejected, and the immediate response is “Mungu alikataa.” This mindset stops the crucial post-mortem analysis needed to learn, adapt, and try a different approach next time.
Ask yourself: “What part did I play in this outcome, and what can I control or change for next time?”
2. “Sijui Pesa Itatoka Wapi”
This phrase of financial despair is a self-fulfilling prophecy. By constantly declaring you don’t know where money will come from, you program your mind to see lack, not opportunity. It shuts down creative problem-solving before it even begins.
Think of the Kenyan hustler at Gikomba or in a matatu Sacco. They don’t have a guaranteed source, but they focus on the next small deal, the next customer. Their mindset is “Pesa itatoka,” and they make it happen through relentless action.
Replace the question with a statement: “I am figuring out where the money will come from,” and start looking for solutions.
3. “That’s Just How It Is in Kenya”
This is the anthem of complacency, used to justify corruption, inefficiency, or any systemic barrier. It normalizes dysfunction and makes you accept limitations that others are actively navigating or changing every single day.
From long queues at government offices like Huduma Centre to “kitu kidogo” expectations, saying this means you’ve given up on finding a better way. Yet, many Kenyans use eCitizen, follow up diligently, and get things done without shortcuts.
Challenge the status quo. Ask: “Who has managed to get this done properly, and how can I learn from them?”
4. “I’m Waiting for My Big Break”
This phrase reveals a dangerous lottery mentality, where success is seen as a single, lucky event. It encourages inaction while you wait for a miracle—a tender, an investor, a viral moment—instead of building something valuable piece by piece.
Look at Kenya’s tech scene. Founders of successful companies like M-Pesa or Twiga didn’t just “get a break.” They built prototypes, faced rejection, and iterated for years. Their daily grind created the opportunity that looked like a “break” from the outside.
Stop waiting. Define one small, practical step you can take today to build your skills, product, or network.
5. “They Are Just Lucky / Connected”
Dismissing others’ success as mere luck or “connections” is a classic way to protect your own ego. It ignores the hustle, sacrifice, and skill they likely developed. This mindset prevents you from learning the real lessons their journey offers.
When you see someone driving a nice car or winning a tender, the easy story is “ni wa mkono.” The harder truth is they may have mastered a skill, built a reputation, or navigated complex systems like the Public Procurement system better than you have.
Get curious, not jealous. Ask what you can learn from their strategy or work ethic.
6. “I Don’t Have Enough Experience”
Using lack of experience as a permanent excuse is a career killer. It stops you from applying for roles, pitching for contracts, or starting projects. Everyone starts with zero experience; the key is to start gaining it.
In the Kenyan job market, with thousands of graduates competing, waiting for the “perfect” experienced role means you’ll wait forever. Many get their start through internships, volunteer work, or side hustles that build a practical portfolio.
Reframe it: “I may not have all the experience yet, but I am a fast learner and here’s how I’ll start building it.”
7. “It’s Too Expensive” (As a Final Answer)
This is a thought-terminating cliché. It ends the conversation at the cost, without exploring the value, alternatives, or creative financing. Successful people see cost as a problem to solve, not a full stop.
Whether it’s a KES 50,000 training course or business software, saying “it’s too expensive” and walking away is easy. The hustler’s mindset asks: “What is the ROI? Can I pay in installments? Is there a cheaper way to get 80% of the benefit?”
Don’t just state the cost. Analyze the potential return and explore all options to make it feasible.
8. “Let Me Just Play It Safe”
An over-reliance on safety is the enemy of growth. It keeps you in unfulfilling jobs, stagnant businesses, and comfort zones that eventually become cages. All meaningful progress requires a calculated risk.
This is the mentality that keeps someone in a toxic but “secure” government job for 30 years, watching as their peers who ventured into farming, tech, or real estate build real wealth. The pension promise feels safe, but often at the cost of your potential.
Identify one small, calculated risk you can take this quarter to advance your goals. Safety is an illusion.
Shifting Your Mindset, One Word at a Time
The real takeaway is that your language shapes your reality. These eight phrases are mental shortcuts that lead to dead ends, and catching yourself using them is the first victory.
Start by picking just one phrase from this list that you say most often. For a week, actively replace it with a more Helping statement. If “sijui pesa” is your default, write down three possible income ideas daily. Use platforms like eCitizen to research official business requirements instead of assuming “that’s how it is.”
The journey to success in Kenya is tough enough without your own words holding you back—start editing your internal dialogue today.
The Bottom Line
Success isn’t just about what you do; it’s deeply rooted in what you say and believe. These eight phrases are mental barriers that keep you stuck in a cycle of excuse-making and inaction. By eliminating them, you take back control of your narrative and open yourself to the possibilities that hustle and a positive mindset can bring in Kenya.
Your challenge is simple: listen to your own words this week, catch one of these phrases, and consciously replace it with a statement of action and ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions: 8 Phrases You Must Stop Saying If You Want to be Successful in Kenya
Which of these phrases is the most damaging for a Kenyan entrepreneur?
“Sijui pesa itatoka wapi” is arguably the most crippling. It directly attacks the core of any business: cash flow and resourcefulness. This mindset of scarcity kills innovation before it can even start.
An entrepreneur must operate from a mindset of abundance and solution-finding. Replace it with a plan, even a basic one, for generating the next KES 1000.
Do these phrases affect people differently in rural vs. Urban Kenya?
The phrases are universal, but their context changes. “It’s God’s will” might be used more in rural areas to explain crop failure, while “they are just connected” is rampant in Nairobi’s competitive job market.
The underlying fixed mindset is the same. Success in either setting requires shifting from explaining why you can’t to figuring out how you can.
What if my family or friends constantly use these phrases around me?
It’s challenging, but you must guard your own mindset. You cannot change them, but you can choose not to internalize their limiting beliefs. Politely steer conversations toward solutions.
Instead of joining a complaint session about “how things are in Kenya,” be the one who asks, “So what’s our plan to work around this?”
Is this advice realistic for older Kenyans set in their ways?
Absolutely. While habits are harder to break, the need for a growth mindset has no age limit. Many successful second careers or businesses start later in life after a shift in perspective.
The key is to start small. Focus on changing just one phrase that most limits your current goals, whether it’s about a pension, a new skill, or a side hustle.
Where can I find communities in Kenya that promote this kind of positive mindset?
Look for industry-specific networking groups, alumni associations, or business hubs like Nairobi Garage or iHub. Many churches and community organizations also have empowerment and investment groups.
Online, follow Kenyan coaches and thought leaders on platforms like LinkedIn who focus on practical personal development, not just motivation.
