This archive report was first published on 3 July 2020.
It's a common phenomenon in Kenya: men struggling to admit their financial difficulties. This was the case for the author, who found himself in a precarious situation on the eve of a much-awaited date with his girlfriend, Hilda.
As Father's Day celebrations were still fresh in his mind, the author reflected on the importance of financial responsibility, a lesson he learned the hard way. He had been invited for a lunch date by Hilda, but he knew he was financially struggling. However, as a man, he felt compelled to put on a brave face and pretend everything was fine.
Desperate to make ends meet, the author turned to betting, a decision that would ultimately ruin his chances with Hilda. He placed a multi-bet on two English Premier League matches, hoping to win the much-needed cash for the date. But, as fate would have it, the match he had predicted to win ended in a draw, leaving him with a significant loss.
With his plans foiled, the author was left with no choice but to cancel the date, citing a 'very important client' as the reason. Though he doesn't know if Hilda believed him, he has since made up his mind to never place his money on gambling again.
As the author so aptly puts it, 'you must gain control of your money or the lack of it will forever control you.' A valuable lesson indeed, one that he will carry with him for a long time to come.
