Hosting relatives is a costly generosity

Nairobi, Kenya: Many employed urbanites cannot admit that it hurts them to host relatives from upcountry, especially those who come unannounced and the job seekers whose visit is indefinite.

Some visiting relatives often think they are owed a favour by their town kin. They come with tall tales of fabulous investments, if only someone could get them a start-up. Chances are that they are aware that commercial banks are awash with credit waiting for people to borrow, but they don’t want it that way in case they default. Their kin may not have the kind of money they need, so they do the next best thing. They give them anything between Sh3,000 and Sh10,000 to go and “try something’, until the next visit. And the charade repeats itself.