Have you heard of “sharp boys”? If you are not a youth, you might have assumed that they are the most innovative or creative young men. But you will be wrong.
Behind the catchy label lies a troubling reality: a growing trend among Kenyan youths who pride themselves on making money through shortcuts, often illegal. What began as a badge of creativity has increasingly become associated with fraud, scams and deception.
When you ask many young people what sharp boys do, one answer comes up repeatedly: they sell “air” online. This means advertising products they don’t own, promising delivery and vanishing once money is sent. Sometimes, they send a worthless substitute instead.
Another practice associated with “sharp boys” is impersonation. They call unsuspecting parents, pretending to be teachers, and claim that a child has fallen ill, urgently requesting money for medication.
In other cases, they pose as Safaricom customer care agents, asking for sensitive account details. Once the information is shared, the victim’s mobile money account is drained. They are also linked to fraudulent online trading schemes.
Supporters of the “sharp boys” argue that these youths are simply adapting to harsh realities. With the unemployment rate among Kenyan youth estimated at over 13 per cent by the International Labour Organization, many feel cornered into short-cuts. Critics, however, insist that glorifying such practices normalises theft and erodes trust in society.
Kenya’s youth are undeniably sharp and resourceful. The challenge is to redirect that energy into legitimate ventures. Government initiatives such as youth funds, innovation hubs, and entrepreneurship training can provide alternatives. Communities can also play a role by celebrating honest hustles from small businesses to digital creativity instead of glorifying short-cuts.
The “sharp boys” trend reveals the desperation of a generation searching for dignity. The real question is what opportunities society will create to redirect its sharpness into honest prosperity. Unless this energy is channelled into legitimate ventures, “sharp boys” will remain a troubling symbol of lost potential.
