{UAH} Simon: What do you say about this?

*#COPIED* 

By Ken Mijungu

Last week there was a screenshot doing rounds about a lady who sells honey and yet her friend declined to buy from her instead ordered from Jumia because it was cheap blah blah. It's her conclusion that caught my attention because it is the absolute reality: "Add Jumia to your WhatsApp group".

This is the everyday reality for all of us trying to make ends meet via doing one form of legitimate business or another. You don't put money in my pockets yet whenever you need something I am you first point of call. So where do I get that money to give? From someone else who gave me business?

I have been doing my car leasing business and car import business for a decade now and a good number of friends and family have never once knocked my door to give me business yet I see them driving new cars every so often, I meet them in the village with 4x4s that they don't own, some tragically hired from me by brokers or from people I supply. 

One time a neighbour wanted a vehicle from me, we couldn't agree on the price just because he didn't want the market rate. He wanted it a little cheaper. We didn't agree; later he hired my very car through a broker. I wonder what he felt when the car showed up because he paid even more for it. 

Last week a good friend was in the country for her grandma's burial. He called me to ask for a car to the village. I didn't even have what he wanted. This guy has been putting money in my pocket for years. Lots of it at that. I did not even think twice. I got him one and paid for it from my pocket. Why? He puts money in my pocket! 

Personally it's friends first. They run legitimate businesses and I must support them. I buy my chicken from Dorry Amonde Okoyo My friend Mercy sells clothes and I buy from her, I know she has ends to meet. 

My friends at @carsoko sell cars, if I can't import my own I buy from them. My friends Dorcas, Byron Otieno Owago Onyiro and Josephine sell fish, I buy from them. I go to my neighbour's carwash.

Ben sells tires in Madaraka, you will never seem me at Yana, I would rather ask him to procure from them and then sell me. I go to "The Urban Shave Executive Barbershop" because I know Calvins and he is my neighbour at home. He is the guy who will show up at my time of need. I know of a friend who runs a nail parlour. Shirley Lumumba tells me not even her friends make their nails from her. How tragic!

I buy _mboga_ from the groceries lady by my doorstep. These are the same people I will add on my WhatsApp group whenever I am in trouble. At that time i have the legitimacy to ask for a coin from them because I put money in their pocket. Support your own otherwise don't call to ask me for a small loan! From where? Don't add me to your wedding or _ruracio mchango_ group if you have never supported my small business.  

Maybe you think if we support them, they will do better than us, well no! They are already better than us. They have what we don't. We are just claiming legitimacy for that rainy day. They won't starve to death either. But we can ask them to support us at our time of need without blinking. 

There are people in our business life that we have their numbers on favourites list. We pick their calls at the first ring. Whenever they call we know it's good news for our businesses and we appreciate you. Add us to your WhatsApp groups whenever you wish. We will show up in the middle of the night and spend time with you late in the morning like my friends Prof or Jared or Enock and other who will think of me first whenever they have business. We will Fuliza or go for M-Shwari to contribute to your needs.

Before the long post concludes, Please deliver if you are trusted with a responsibility. Don't take advantage of friends and family. Refund what you borrowed, deliver what was ordered, offer the best services when called upon and don't ask for more because you know he got some more where that came from.

Treat your friends and family with the same attitude and professionalism you treat other people. 

Let's do business, shall we?

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