Kenyans Stunned As USIU Student Spends KSh 232k In Month: "Ruto Tax Them"

• A TikToker went around the United States International University (USIU) asking students about their expenditure
• One student showed his M-Pesa statement indicating that he spent KSh 232,000 in January
• The video stunned many Kenyans on social media, who reacted with humorous comments

A United States International University (USIU) student has left social media users gobsmacked after disclosing he spent over KSh 200,000 a month.

How much do USIU students spend monthly?

Interviewed by TikToker, Omar Mwangi, the student disclosed that he spent KSh 232 000 in January 2024.

The student's 12-month expenditure over 2023 stood at a staggering KSh 2,041,574.

He was among select students challenged by Omar to reveal their expenditure for January by publicly sharing their M-Pesa statements.

Three others shared that they spent KSh 37,757, KSh 176,449 and KSh 47,726, respectively.

Reacting to the clip, social media users said their disclosures were shocking, proving that the cost of living was not impacting all equally.

Umess:

"Weuhhhhhh. How does a student casually use KSh 2 million?"

Seio:

“Someone spends KSh 48,000 and thinks it’s nothing.”

Me:

"The second guy's spending has to be a joke. There is no way he spent my whole life's savings in 12 months."

John KG:

"They will find it difficult to find a first job paying anything close to that. One of them should just start his firm."

Sandrap Theeman:

"Are we still talking about students here or parents?”

Morris Alex:

“At UoN, if you spend KSh 8,000, they say you are laundering money.”

Kay:

“Ruto go get money from these kids.”

Dr Lesley Akali:

"Maybe I need to study more and become a student at USIU."

Njeri:

"When our parents married for love, theirs went for the bag and found love."

How expensive are USIU elections?

While not every student in USIU is a rich kid, a significant percentage of those who attend are drawn from among some of Kenya's elite families.

In September 2023, the university's student elections turned heads after candidates seeking elections campaigned in high-end vehicles.

Footage posted on TikTok of the vehicles included a Mercedes Benz G Wagon and Bentley Bentayga, whose total runs into tens of millions.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.