Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has urged young people to live within their means rather than faking a lavish lifestyle.
The youthful MP noted that young people who crave luxury and live extravagantly are more likely to face financial frustrations.
Salasya acknowledged that economic challenges, particularly unemployment, make life difficult, emphasizing the need for Kenyans to spend and invest wisely.
He also warned young people against alcoholism, calling it a direct path to financial ruin.
"The youth should live within their means because the moment you fail to do so, you will struggle," Salasya said during an interview on NTV on Friday night.
"Don't spend Sh20,000 or Sh30,000 on alcohol and buy expensive drinks for friends."
He observed that many young people prioritize a flashy lifestyle and entertaining friends over saving and investing, a habit he warned is unsustainable.
Salasya encouraged those who do not drink to remain teetotalers to avoid financial struggles.
Recalling his time as a student at Egerton University, he shared that he lived modestly, paying Sh1,500 for a single-room rental while his peers spent extravagantly.
"I was even overcharged for rent, but I lived in that simple house for all four years of university," he said.
"One should accept themselves instead of faking a lifestyle."
Salasya added that he only upgraded to a Sh3,000 house after securing a job.
He also criticized the trend of young people flaunting wealth on social media while living a completely different reality.
"I have been in politics for some time now, and I know many people who showcase wealth online, but when you meet them in person, their reality is far from what they portray," he said.
The MP spoke at a time when some young people have found themselves on the wrong side of the law due to debts.
Others slipped into depression and frustration because of life pressures and peer influence.
