For Pius Muchiri, the Managing Director of Nabo Capital, money is not just a tool for investment; it is a trauma response. In a candid revelation that peels back the curtain on the psyche of Kenya’s corporate elite, Muchiri has opened up about the event that defined his life: his father’s sudden job loss.

Speaking to the Business Daily, the investment mogul described how witnessing his family’s descent from stability to vulnerability instilled in him a "poverty mindset" that took decades to unlearn. It is a story that resonates with millions of Kenyans—the terrifying fragility of the middle class, where one sack letter stands between comfort and destitution.

"I Felt Guilt Over Pizza"

"That experience made me conservative about debt," Muchiri confessed. "I use debt only when I believe I've used my own money very well." This conservatism is the bedrock of his management style at Nabo Capital, an investment boutique managing billions in assets. Yet, the personal toll was heavy.

Muchiri admitted to struggling with "Black Tax" and survivor’s guilt. "There was this guilt of spending a thousand shillings on pizza when that money could change someone's life back home," he said. This psychological burden—the fear that it could all disappear—drives a relentless work ethic but often robs successful Africans of the ability to enjoy their wealth.

• Financial Freedom Redefined: To Muchiri, true wealth is not the numbers in a bank account. "Financial freedom means knowing that even if everything collapsed, I could start again and succeed," he asserted. It is resilience, not resources.
• The Lesson on Debt: His advice to young entrepreneurs is stark: avoid debt unless it generates returns higher than the cost of borrowing. "Always have a plan B," he warns, a lesson learned from watching a generation of fathers who had no safety net.

The Human Side of Capital

Muchiri’s story is a rare glimpse into the vulnerability of the CEO class. It humanizes the cold world of investment banking, reminding us that behind every portfolio is a person trying to outrun their past. In a country where economic uncertainty is the norm, Muchiri’s journey from anxiety to abundance is not just a success story; it is a survival guide.