First, the boring-but-important stuff: by GDP per capita, Kenya is officially a lower-middle-income country. That’s World Bank speak for “not dirt poor, but also not sipping cocktails on a yacht.”
But let’s be real—averages are like one-size-fits-all hats. They fit nobody. In Nairobi, you’ll see shiny skyscrapers next to dusty kiosks selling phone chargers and mandazi (delicious fried dough, try one).
So, is Kenya poor? The honest answer is: it’s complicated, and way more fun to unpack than a simple “yes” or “no.”
