Kenyan Prince’s remark that anyone who is 40 years old and living in a bedsitter has “failed in life,” and that by 40 one should be at the peak like Elon Musk, has sparked strong reactions because it touches on a sensitive but common social pressure: how success is defined.
At its core, the statement promotes a narrow and unrealistic definition of achievement. Comparing an average person to Elon Musk—one of the world’s richest individuals—is not only unfair but deeply misleading. Musk’s wealth and status are extreme exceptions, not benchmarks for ordinary human progress. Using such comparisons ignores differences in background, opportunity, education, health, geography, and sheer luck.
The idea that housing alone determines success is equally flawed. Living in a bedsitter at 40 does not automatically mean failure. Many people choose smaller spaces to reduce costs, focus on other goals, or recover from financial setbacks. Others may be supporting families, paying debts, investing in businesses, or prioritizing peace of mind over appearances. Life paths are not linear, and progress does not follow a single timeline.
Such statements also risk shaming people who are already struggling in a tough economic environment. In Kenya today, high unemployment, rising living costs, and limited opportunities mean that many hardworking individuals are doing their best under difficult circumstances. Labeling them as failures adds emotional harm without offering solutions.
More importantly, success cannot be reduced to money, housing size, or public status. For some, success is raising responsible children, maintaining integrity, staying healthy, serving their community, or simply surviving against the odds. These achievements may not trend online, but they are no less meaningful.
Kenyan Prince’s comment reflects a mindset that equates worth with wealth and speed with success. While ambition is important, so is empathy. A society grows stronger when it recognizes diverse definitions of progress and respects the dignity of every journey. At 40—or any age—life is not a competition against billionaires, but a personal path shaped by resilience, purpose, and growth.
