Not all debt is the enemy. There are two very different kinds:
Productive debt buys something that earns or lasts — a boda you will rent out, a deep freezer for a cold-drinks hustle, stock to resell at the market, fees for a skill. It can pay for itself and then some.
Consumption debt buys something that is gone by tomorrow, usually at a high rate — borrowing for a night out, a bet, or the latest phone you cannot afford. This is the trap.
Quick test before borrowing: will this money still be working for me next month, or just be a memory? Productive debt builds you. Consumption debt buries you.
If you are already caught
List every debt and its real yearly rate (use the trick from the last lesson).
Attack the highest-rate one first — throw every extra shilling at it while paying minimums on the rest. Kill the fastest-growing snowball first.
Replace expensive with cheap. A SACCO loan often costs a small fraction of a loan-app rate; moving your debt there can cut the price massively.
In Mizani, check your Credit standing — remember, leaving borrowing headroom actually lifts your score — and browse Offers for lower-cost credit to escape the expensive stuff. The best time to learn this is before your first easy loan.