Bazu wa Campo: Adventures and Memories of My First Ride at JKUAT!

Maze, I’ll always cherish the memories of my first ride – an aged, Peugeot 504 sedan my Uncle had abused for decades. To be fair, it was crumbling at the seams. But she had an awesome aftermarket exhaust – a deep, throaty roar that arrived before I did.

I was just twenty, on my first year of Campo, pale JKUAT. She cost an arm and a leg, almost one of my kidneys. Haikuwa easy kupata 75k those days. Yaani, I had to slave away for two long years at a Jua Kali shed hammering iron sheets.

I would be saving kitu three-quarters of my salary. Story za kwenda bash na rave with my gang ilibaki story. I was literally the poster boy for the phrase ‘Trust the Process’. But, form ilikuja ikajipa mbaya sana.

I paid off my beloved 504. I christened her ‘Hot-Stepper’, slapped on shiny rims and did some cool graphics. Overnight, I became the real Bazu wa Mtaa! Boss, si nili trend! It was mad, mad fun. Form za kwenda bash zikaanza kukam.

I would roll in with my crew, blasting the best of Kenyan hip-hop – talk of the now-defunct Wenyeji, Ukoo Flani Mau Mau and Abbas Kubaff.

I learnt to drive on that 504. Those days, I didn’t have enough for driving school so my instructor was some Kamba guy called Mutisya. He had a roadside garage in Umoja. I would get stuck in the middle of nowhere, in the wee hours – I had to send someone to fetch him.

None of us had a mobile phone! He always turned up, use the first 30 minutes kunipa misomo!

But, I was a good student. I picked the basics of an engine pretty quickly. I had to – Mutisya was quite expensive, maze. A tiny problem, he goes: “Ah, boss – hii inataka overhaul. Ama tuko na pesa ngapi tufanye shortcut?”

Later on, I’d realise it was an exaggeration. Mutisya was my baptism by fire mechanic. Fast forward, I’m very grateful to him.

The Magic in Savings

In a nutshell, my beloved Hot-Stepper junk drilled into me the discipline of savings. I always had to have money, she would blow a fuse, or get a puncture without warning. When I took ownership, Uncle deliberately ignored educating me on the cost of service, fuel and annual insurance.

Then, the Subaru ya Mambaru crew. Maze, I’d be stopped by traffic cops on barriers and patrols. Yaani, lazima tu I had a problem: Oh, the left indicator light is not working. Oh, your tyres need replacement and such.

I always had to have some savings on standby.

Cars aside, the peace of mind that comes with knowing there’s a safety net in place for unexpected situations is an underrated comfort.

The tricky bit lies in picking the ideal saving option.

Long term vs Short Term

Short-term financial goals are achieved in a relatively short period, usually within a year or even a few months. The small, fun things you want to experience in the near future. Essentially, these bring satisfaction and joy to your life in the near future. Like, unataka iPhone Pro-something, sijui Bae-caetion pale Mombasa na Mpoa wako…..

On the other hand, long-term goals count as the big dreams you aim to make a reality. Think of big financial milestones on your radar. Time stretch varies between five years, ten years, or, even two decades down the road. Dreams like ka-plot somewhere outskirts za Runda, college fees za watoi or ku-buy Ranch huko shags for retirement.

How Should You Save Money?

You’ll definitely be spoilt for choice. There are traditional Savings Accounts, Fixed Deposit Accounts, Money Market Accounts (MMA) and Certificate of Deposit (CDs) accounts. These attract varying interest rates. Other options include Investment Accounts, Online and Goal-oriented Savings Accounts.

The savings concept is nearly similar across the list, what mostly differs is their maturity time and interests earned over the year.

KCB Bank offers all these options, but the bank’s most attractive savings option lies around the High-Yield Savings Account. As the name implies, customers enjoy higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts – for instance, the KCB Simba Savings Account.

The KCB Simba Savings Account

Bank is thrilled to present an ideal savings solution that revolutionizes the way you manage your money. The KCB Simba Savings account is big on flexibility, high-interest rates, and focused alignment with both short-term and long-term goals.

This savings option is packed with benefits:

• Enjoy Unlimited free deposits
• Earns up to 5% interest on your savings, annually.
• No monthly fees, and no hidden fees.
• Once-a-month withdrawal feature

The once-a-month withdrawal feature is an innovative add-on that assists mould financial discipline with Simba Savings account holders. The savings journey is tough, laden with temptations – so any withdrawal has to be planned and well thought-out.

What are the Requirements for KCB Simba Savings Account?

KCB Bank’s solid reputation around customer service is first seen with a hassle-free account opening process. Gone are the days of cumbersome paperwork and lengthy waiting times. Less paperwork means customers can save valuable time for their other hustles.

All you need is:

• Valid Kenyan ID card or Passport
• Your KRA PIN certificate

Once you present the two documents, you get your Simba Savings account. A new customer shall need to make a deposit account opening balance of Ksh1000. That also remains as the Simba Savings account minimum balance. There are no monthly fees charged.

Whether you’re a seasoned saver or just starting on your path to financial well-being, the Simba Savings account offers you the simplicity and convenience you deserve.

Click here now to open and learn more about a KCB Simba Savings Account. The next best time to start the savings journey is now.

While a KCB Bank representative may call you at any time to obtain further information in line with the KYC process, they will certainly not ask for your PIN and password.

Kumbuka, PIN yako, ni siri yako!