Content creator Chebet Ronoh has revealed how she mismanaged her first Ksh1.5 million at the age of 19, saying alcohol took up a large part of the money she earned from brand deals.
Ronoh said she was among the first content creators to emerge, which brought her many opportunities and earnings she had never experienced before.
She explained that several brands approached her within a short period, allowing her to make a large amount of money in one month. However, she admitted that she did not know how to manage her earnings at the time and failed to follow her mother’s advice to invest.
“I made my first million at 19. I mismanaged it,” Chebet Ronoh said during an interview on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Ronoh said she was receiving several brand deals in a month, with the earnings reaching Ksh1.5 million. She explained that the money came at a time when she was still a teenager and was yet to understand herself.
“I was among the first content creators coming out, so many of the opportunities were reaching out to me. They were offering money I have never seen in my life. And in one month I think I was doing like 4,5 brands and it reached like Ksh1.5 million,” Ronoh said.
Alcohol took a large share of her earnings
Ronoh said her mother tried to guide her towards investing the money, but she did not manage her finances well. She recalled spending a large amount of her earnings on alcohol, which she later realised was affecting her money.
“My mom was trying to tell me I should invest. I remember a lot of my money going to alcohol,” Ronoh said.
She explained that she was still young and did not fully understand herself at the time. Ronoh also recalled how her friends leaned on her, saying she believed their actions meant they loved her.
“I was a teenager; I didn’t know who I was. My friends would lean on me, and I thought, oh, they love me,” Ronoh said.
Ronoh said she eventually noticed how much money she was spending on alcohol and tried to reduce the cost by buying cheaper liquor. She explained that the decision came after she realised alcohol was draining her earnings.
“I was drinking very cheap liquor just to save money because I realised I was losing money to alcohol,” Ronoh said.
