The digital divide in Kenya has taken a sharp, litigious turn. Content creator Pritty Vishy is now calling for the arrest and physical punishment of wealthy forex traders. She claims these traders are jeering at struggling citizens during a period of intense economic hardship.
This fallout follows a series of viral clips where affluent online personalities mocked Kenyans for complaining about the rising cost of living. Vishy’s outburst specifically targets those who dismiss the financial struggles of the “common mwananchi” as a simple lack of effort.
“You see these forex people who come online to start telling people that if you can’t afford fuel, you should go and work hard. These are people who are supposed to be beaten properly,” she said.
The Dignity of 50 Shillings
Pritty Vishy, visibly frustrated in a recent video, challenged the idea that 50 shillings is an insignificant amount of money. She noted that for those at the top, such small amounts are often overlooked, but for the majority, they represent a matter of survival.
“To you, that Ksh 50 bob is nothing and it’s okay, but for you coming online to rant that if we cannot afford things, we should work hard. Do you know how many people encounter sleepless nights to work and get that 50 shillings?“
Vishy argued that telling people to “work hard” is an insult to those already putting in maximum effort for minimum returns. She highlighted that many Kenyans are already working themselves to exhaustion only to be paid “peanuts.“
The Fuel Price Spark
The tension reached a boiling point following remarks by the prominent forex trader known as Kenyan Prince. As fuel prices hit record highs in Kenya—surpassing the 200-shilling mark per litre in EPRA’s May review—the trader told his followers to stop decrying the costs.
He suggested that instead of complaining, Kenyans should simply work hard to afford the lifestyle they want. This rhetoric has sparked a fierce debate about the easy money culture of forex trading versus the reality of manual labour.
A Call for Discipline
Vishy’s stance is clear: mocking the poor should have legal consequences. She suggested that people who go online to tell “broke” Kenyans to work harder should be disciplined. Her argument rests on the idea that these influencers are making people feel “stupid” for their basic needs.
“It’s so sad that with the way things are going, the cost of living… [people] make other people feel like they’re stupid for wanting,” she remarked, defending the emotional toll of the economic crisis.
The “Hustle” vs. The Reality
The “work hard” narrative pushed by forex traders often ignores the systemic issues facing the country. Vishy pointed out that the audacity to look down on others is what is truly crazy.
She maintains that while some have found success in the digital markets, it does not give them the right to belittle those who cannot afford necessities. For Vishy and her supporters, the issue isn’t just about money—it’s about respect for the “peanuts” that keep the country running.
