Germany-based content creator Nyako has sparked a major online conversation after going live on TikTok to speak frankly about her 27 years living in Europe, saying the continent had not delivered the life she once imagined. In the selfie-style livestream, filmed indoors with a reflective, almost melancholic tone, Nyako said she moved abroad at 23 and found herself at 50 with very little to show for it beyond clean roads and fresh air. Nyako’s honest take on life abroad “I am one of those people who have ripped nothing in Europe,” she said. “Twenty years I have ripped nothing. Abroad is about going to work, paying your tax, go to work, pay your tax. Nothing much about it.” She went on to describe the shock of realising time had slipped by without her building anything substantial.
“Before you realise it, you are 50 years old. Like me, I went abroad when I was 23, and now I am 50. When did I am 50? How did I get to be 50? What can I show? All those years have been in Europe, nothing,” she said. Nyako credited TikTok as one of the few things that had made a difference in her life abroad, and warned Kenyans still dreaming of greener pastures to think carefully before leaving. “If you have something going on for you in Kenya, stay here. If you have family that love you, if you have something good going on for you, if you have a lover that loves you so hard, stay in Kenya,” she added. She added that unless you happen to meet a millionaire or billionaire who changes your circumstances, life in Europe is not dramatically different from struggling at home. “Abroad is hand to mouth, like Kenya,” she said.
Watch Nyako open up about her decades in Europe in her own words: Kenyans react to Nyako’s warning Her candid admission drew a wide range of responses from viewers: @unknown said: “If you’re not careful, this can be your reality 😅. I know people who have done nothing in 20 years and others who have done a lot in less than 10 years; it’s all up to you as a person.” @kendyali said: “That is not true. Some of us are doing very well in life.” @MISH said: “But watu wako huko are doing a lot hapa Kenya, and we can see from family members. One failure is not for all.” @Clare Shelly said: “But it depends on someone’s luck.” @Dantez said: “The system there is set like that to keep you trapped in the matrix.” @Yrium said: “So muwache kudharau madem wa Gulf because we have done a lot na hii pesa kidogo.” @Kitty said: “You’re forgetting gadgets, Nyako🤗🤗🤗🤗.” s
