- Vaiyonce Akinyi, a Kisumu woman, declined to contribute to a friend’s birthday fundraiser, saying birthdays are a luxury and not an emergency
- She sent the friend a candid message explaining her stance, with her honest response igniting mild tension in her friendship
- A WhatsApp group of over 170 people had been created for contributions for the birthday, yet only seven people sent money, with amounts ranging from KSh 500 to KSh 1,000
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Vaiyonce Akinyi, a Kisumu woman, has sparked a lively online debate after revealing that a friendship ended the moment she declined to contribute money towards a friend’s birthday party celebration.
Source: Facebook
Posting on Facebook on June 24, 2025, Vaiyonce shared a screenshot of the message she sent her friend after receiving a request for financial support ahead of the birthday bash.
“Osiepa, it’s Friday and I’m requesting your support budget,” the friend wrote at 12:01, appealing to Vaiyonce’s sense of friendship.
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Vaiyonce’s response, sent at 12:15, was polite but firm.
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“Ah, no! Birthday is a luxury leisure thing and not an emergency like sickness or helping a needy person. So whenever one chooses to celebrate in a big way like yours, it means you have the money to fund such not asking for support. In short, I personally don’t contribute to weddings, birthdays, and baby showers. Sorry to disappoint,” she wrote back in the WhatsApp chat
WhatsApp Group for Birthday Contributions
Speaking to NGBREAKINGNEWS Vaiyonce revealed that the friend had created a WhatsApp group specifically to collect contributions for the party. The group had more than 170 members, yet only seven people had sent money, with contributions ranging from KSh 500 to KSh 1,000, and the birthday person herself added KSh 5,000.
A banner for the birthday event at a club had already been printed.
Despite the low response, the friend appeared committed to going ahead with the celebrations, a decision Vaiyonce found hard to understand.
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Speaking further on the matter, Vaiyonce did not hold back her thoughts on financial priorities.
“People should just have life priority and avoid the pressure of pleasing the public, while in reality, you are struggling to survive. Instead of wasting the little money you have, use it to invest in a business to earn you more money,” she said.
She was careful, however, to clarify that she was not against birthday celebrations altogether.
“It’s not bad for one to do a birthday party, but only if you’re capable of funding it,” she added.
Akinyi also appreciated her friend for her response to her stern message, saying she had understood her position.
Kenyans react to Akinyi’s post
Her post quickly gained traction, with many Kenyans relating to the all-too-familiar pressure of contributing to fundraisers for non-essential events. Here is how social media users responded:
@Atieno_Linet: “You said what many of us think but are too afraid to say. Birthdays are personal, not community projects.”
@OdhiamboKe: “170 people in a group and only 7 contributed? That alone says it all. People are tired.”
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@Wanjiku_Nairobi: “Friendship should never be conditional on money. You did the right thing Vaiyonce.”
@MumbiWaweru: “The banner is already out, but the funds aren’t there? That is exactly how debt starts.”
@NyarOtieno: “I lost two friends for the same reason. Some people see you as an ATM, not a friend.”
@KisumuMtaa: “This is the most relatable post I have seen this week. Birthday harambees have to stop.”
Chats emerge as Mzungu man splits from lover
In other news, TUKO also highlighted facts about Robert Phoenix, a musician and security professional, who recently faced a heart-wrenching split from the woman he once envisioned a future with, following a transformative year in his life.
In his emotional farewell post, Phoenix reflected on the deep significance of his relationship with Vee, describing her as the best thing that had happened to him, only to reveal that their love story had taken a devastating turn.
Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS
