By Nyang’au Araka
Lawyer and public commentator Nelson Havi ignited a conversation online on Friday after he wrote that he was considering relocating to Nakuru.
In a candid social media post, Havi painted a picture that many Nairobians know all too well.
“Life in Nairobi is unnecessarily expensive. I am relocating to Nakuru,” he wrote, immediately sparking a flurry of online reactions.
Havi’s humor was on full display as he compared everyday meal prices in the city to what he hopes to enjoy in Nakuru.
A starter “supu” followed by a main course of ugali, beef with managu, could set one back as much as a pineapple juice at Serena Hotel in Nairobi.
“I am sure ata kabusaa hapa I can get with 50 bob, nipumzishe mwili,” he quipped, referencing the much-loved local delicacy and the relief of simple, affordable living.
The post resonates with many Kenyans who feel squeezed by high living costs in Nairobi, from rent and transport to dining and entertainment.
Havi’s playful tone underscored a growing conversation about the allure of smaller cities, where the pace is slower, the costs lower, and the daily grind less relentless.
He even posted a receipt of showing the amount he spent to have lunch in a Nakuru eatery, which was far below what people of his caliber would spend in a modest city eating joint.
It may have been a witty observation but the comments were both hilarious and thought provoking.
“Who are you leaving as the last hope for the city?” wrote Wanjiku Thiong’o, while Wycliffe Donor Nalyanya said: “Wakili, in Nakuru, cat meat is part of the menu and is used to entice newcomers like you. I once ate 2 fat flamingos at the price of bread.”
