In a candid interview with Mungai Eve, a Kenyan nurse currently based in the USA opened up about her perspective on how Kenyans react to people’s situations. She shared her decision to stop paying attention to the opinions of others, as she observed that, regardless of a person’s actions, Kenyans tend to have something to say.
Nurse Judy reflected on her past experiences while working as a nurse in Kenya. During that time, she used to share her monthly payslip of Ksh.33,000 with the Kenyan online community. In an effort to shed light on the challenges of her profession, she would break down the meager salary and discuss the demanding nature of nursing in Kenya. Initially, the response from the online community was positive, with many praising her humility and openness.
However, Nurse Judy noticed a shift in attitudes when she began earning substantial amounts after relocating to the USA, where nursing is well-compensated. Despite maintaining her practice of sharing payslips online, this time revealing amounts as high as Ksh.2.1 million every two weeks, she faced criticism from Kenyans. They accused her of bragging, a stark contrast to the supportive comments she received when facing financial challenges.
Nurse Judy attributed this change in perception to a prevalent tendency among Kenyans to celebrate poverty and feel discomfort when confronted with someone’s success. Undeterred by the criticism, she continued to share her experiences, emphasizing that she never fabricates aspects of her life. She has come to accept that people will always have something to say, and she remains unfazed by the opinions of those who may not appreciate her journey toward success.
