Of Wababas and Wallets: Why Young Kenyan Women are Trading Youthful Love for Silver-Haired Luxury

Nairobi, 

Thursday, 16 January, 2025 

McCreadie Andias 

In the dimly lit lounges of Nairobi’s Westlands, where jazzy tunes and the clinking of expensive wine glasses reign, a peculiar trend unfolds. Young, ambitious university girls draped in designer outfits are seated next to distinguished gentlemen old enough to be their fathers—or even grandfathers. 

These men, affectionately or derisively referred to as wababas, have become the unlikely princes in the fairy tales of Kenya's college girls. But what drives this seismic shift from young love to aged affluence?

“They Offer What My Peers Can’t”

“I’m not ashamed of it,” says Sheila*, a 23-year-old media student at a top Nairobi university, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. 

“Do you know how much rent in Nairobi is? My peers are broke and only offer me heartbreak and cheap chips. A wababa pays my rent, takes me to coast every other weekend, and bought me an iPhone. Love is overrated; stability isn’t.”

Sheila’s sentiments are echoed by many girls who now find themselves in relationships with wealthy, older men. For many of these young women, the allure is simple: financial security. In a country where unemployment is rife and inflation eats away at the smallest of budgets, wababas are seen as saviors, not sugar daddies.

The Lifestyle

Take Vanessa*, a law student who splits her time between courtrooms and business-class flights to Dubai. “My boyfriend is 55, but he treats me like a queen. He has introduced me to a world I never imagined—a world of spa days, exotic vacations, and expensive perfumes.”

Vanessa claims she doesn’t feel exploited. “We have mutual respect. He gets companionship, I get a life upgrade. Is that so bad?”

The rise of these relationships has even led to the emergence of coded lingo. “I’m not looking for love; I’m looking for a sponsor,” one girl quips on TikTok, flashing wads of cash gifted to her by her baba.

What About the Boys?

While wababas bask in their newfound attention, their younger counterparts—often referred to as vijana—are left sulking on the sidelines.

“Honestly, how are we supposed to compete with a guy who owns a Range Rover and a beach house?” asks Kevin, a 21-year-old engineering student. “We are struggling to buy airtime and afford fare to visit them in their hostels, yet these guys are sending them M-Pesa in six figures. It’s demoralizing.”

Kevin’s sentiments are not isolated. Many young men feel betrayed, viewing the trend as a moral decay fueled by greed. “It’s like we’ve become invisible to them unless we’re holding a stack of cash,” laments Brian, a 22-year-old.

The Wababa Perspective

On the other side of the spectrum are the wababas themselves. James, a 57-year-old entrepreneur, offers a blunt perspective: “I’ve worked hard all my life, and now I want to enjoy it. 

These young women bring energy, beauty, and excitement into my life. It’s a win-win situation. Plus, they’re more respectful than women my age.”

However, critics argue that this dynamic perpetuates power imbalances and leaves young women vulnerable. 

Relationship psychologist Dr. Emily Wambui warns, “These arrangements may seem mutually beneficial, but often, the emotional toll on these girls is overlooked. They might end up feeling trapped or exploited in the long run.”

The rise of wababa culture has sparked heated debates on social media. Advocates argue that young women are simply leveraging their assets in a tough economy. Critics see it as a sign of declining morals.

As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: the wababa wave shows no signs of slowing down. For every Kevin lamenting on Twitter, there’s a Sheila popping champagne in Diani.

The Final Word

“Don’t hate the player; hate the game,” says Cynthia*, a self-proclaimed sponsorpreneur. “If young men want us back, they need to step up. Until then, I’ll be on a yacht with my wababa.”

Whether you view it as survival, exploitation, or empowerment, the wababa phenomenon is undeniably reshaping Kenya’s dating landscape, one M-Pesa transaction at a time.