Walk into any salon in Nairobi, Nakuru, or Kisumu and you will find a steady stream of men and women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s asking for one thing: “Nifanyie black.” Make it black again. Cover the grey.
In Kenya, retirement conversations almost always start with money. Have you saved enough? Will your pension last? Should you buy a plot upcountry? These are necessary questions.
It is now well accepted that there is a moment in every retiree’s life that no financial planner can prepare you for. It is not the day your pension hits your account. It is not the farewell party or the last email from the office.
In Kenya, there is a familiar response many people hear when they say they are retired: “Oh, you are retired but not tired.” It is usually delivered with a smile, sometimes even admiration. The intention is kind. It is meant to affirm vitality, relevance, and continued life.
What if the real problem with retirement is not this phase of life – but the language we use to define it? The word retirement comes from the French retirer, meaning “to withdraw into seclusion.”
In Kenya, retirement conversations are often quiet competitions and comparisons. Who built a home upcountry first? Whose children are doing well here and abroad? Who travels more. Who still “looks busy.” Who seems comfortable.
When Peter* retired at 60 after more than three decades in a senior corporate role, his farewell party was impressive. Speeches were made, gifts exchanged, and photos taken. For years, people had stood when he entered a room. Decisions paused until he spoke.
A beginner’s mind is a way of approaching life with openness, curiosity, and without fixed judgments – as if you were seeing things for the first time.
Retirement is often imagined as one long rest. No alarms, no pressure, no deadlines. After years of hard work, slowing down feels well-deserved. And it is.
Retirement remains a risky and uncertain journey for Kenyans. For many, the word “retirement” is still whispered with fear, often associated with poverty, dependence, and declining dignity.