Kenya’s leading conversational platform Mwelekeo TV has done it again. This time, it hosted a conversation that many young people will relate to, especially those who feel stuck despite being educated.
In the interview, Finsmart Hub founder Veronica Akoth spoke openly about a reality many do not say out loud.
That having a degree does not always translate to financial stability. Many young people are working, trying, even doing everything right, but still struggling to move forward.
What stood out was not just the message, but how it was brought out. Mwelekeo TV allowed the conversation to flow in a way that felt real, not forced, not scripted. Just honest.
Why many educated youth are still struggling
Veronica explained something simple but powerful. Most people are taught how to pass exams, but not how to handle money.
You go to school, get good grades, graduate, then get a job if you are lucky. After that, life becomes about surviving. Paying rent, taking loans, trying to keep up. Years pass, but financially, nothing really changes.
She described it as a cycle. You earn, you spend, you repay, then repeat.
And the truth is, many people do not even realise they are stuck in it.
The idea behind Finsmart Hub
Finsmart Hub was started to deal with exactly that gap.
Not theory, but real life skills. Things like understanding money, knowing how to grow it and learning how to build something of your own.
Veronica broke it down in a very simple way. If you do not understand money, even a good income will not help you. And if you do not think beyond survival, you will always stay there.
The goal is to help people start thinking differently. Not just about earning, but about building.
From survival to building something bigger
One thing that came out clearly is how many businesses people start just to survive.
Selling something to cover rent, running small side hustles just to get by. There is nothing wrong with that, but the problem comes when it stays like that for years.
The shift, according to Veronica, is moving from that survival mindset to building something that can grow. Something that can outlive you, something structured.
That is where many people struggle, because no one really teaches that.
The missing piece in education
Another point that hit home was how little financial knowledge is taught early.
Things like saving, investing or even understanding simple financial tools are not part of what most people learn in school.
So by the time someone hears about money market funds or investing, they are already deep into responsibilities and expenses.
Mwelekeo TV bringing this out puts a spotlight on a gap that affects more people than we admit.
Learning skills that actually matter today
The conversation also touched on how things are changing.
It is no longer just about having a job. People need to know how to adapt, how to use digital tools and how to reach customers beyond their immediate environment.
From moving small businesses online to understanding how social media works, these are now basic skills.
Even things like using new technology to simplify work and reduce costs are becoming necessary, not optional.
The reality of starting a business in Kenya
The discussion did not ignore the challenges.
Many startups do not last long. Some focus too much on looking successful instead of actually building something sustainable. Others struggle with costs, especially when competing with imported goods.
There is also the issue of funding. Money is available in some cases, but how it is used makes all the difference.
Without structure and guidance, even good ideas can fail.