A 23-year-old from Nairobi sold a stainless-steel cooking pot online for Ksh 259,000.
A young man in Nairobi has sparked national debate after selling an ordinary sufuria at an extraordinary price. Through an international e-commerce platform, he listed the stainless-steel pot for $2,000 (about Ksh 259,000), branding it as a unique Kenyan cultural cooking item.
Screenshots of the payment and order quickly spread online, leaving many Kenyans shocked. Locally, the same item would fetch less than Ksh 1,500.
For some Kenyans, the sale is proof of Gen Z creativity and bold thinking. They praised the youth for packaging and storytelling that made a common product appear valuable abroad.
“This is smart business,” one comment read. “Why sell it for a thousand here when someone out there can pay hundreds of thousands?”
But critics were not impressed. They warned that misrepresenting ordinary goods as cultural artefacts could harm Kenya’s reputation in global markets. “It looks clever now, but tricks like this destroy trust,” another Kenyan wrote.
Business analysts say the case reflects both sides of global e-commerce. While online platforms allow young entrepreneurs to reach buyers worldwide, the long-term game depends on honesty and sustainable branding.
“Integrity builds repeat customers,” one expert noted. “Quick gains through exaggeration may backfire.”
Responding to the criticism, the youth said he forced no one to buy.
“The buyer saw value and made the choice. Business is about demand and supply,” he explained.
What started as the sale of a sufuria has turned into a national talking point. For some, it represents smart hustle; for others, exploitation. Either way, the story highlights how perception, creativity, and digital platforms are changing the face of business in Kenya.
