My name is Janet, a 28-year-old single mother of two living in Baba Dogo, Nairobi. Three years ago, my marriage collapsed after my husband claimed he could no longer stay with a woman who wasn’t contributing financially to household expenses. At that time, I had just lost my job, and his departure hit me hard, leaving me angry and heartbroken — especially since both of my children are boys.
I had been working at a well-known supermarket as the head cashier, and many of my friends used to say that my husband only loved me because I was financially stable. I never believed them, but his actions after I lost my job proved them right.
Life after the separation became unbearable. I suddenly had to cater for rent, food, and clothing for my children without any income. I managed to get a single room that cost Kshs 2,700 per month, but even that became a struggle to pay. With no stable source of income, I turned to mobile loan apps and bank overdrafts, which initially seemed like a lifeline.
Soon, I found myself trapped in debt from multiple lenders. I borrowed to survive, but the repayment pressure grew beyond control. Today, I can’t walk freely in my own neighborhood because I fear bumping into creditors who might harm me over unpaid loans.TO READ MORE, TAP HERE
