In Kenya, the term “sharp boys” has increasingly entered everyday street language, especially among young people who hustle in unconventional ways to make money. The label is often used for individuals believed to be street-smart, bold and willing to take risks to get ahead.
However, in some circles, the term has also become associated with young people involved in illegal deals, scams and other questionable money-making schemes. Their flashy lifestyles, expensive clothes, cars and constant displays of cash can sometimes make such activities appear attractive, particularly to other young people looking for quick success.
It is this growing admiration of such behaviour that comedian and content creator Eddie Butita has questioned.
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Butita Challenges the ‘Sharp’ Narrative
Butita took issue with the way Kenyans sometimes describe conmen as intelligent or “sharp,” arguing that stealing from other people should not be celebrated as cleverness.
“How do you call conmen sharp? I think tunaglorify wizi sana. Na hivi ndio politicians wanatushort change ju tushafanya ikae normal. Kama unaibia msee you are not sharp,” Butita said.
His comments challenge a culture where individuals who make money through questionable means can sometimes receive admiration simply because they appear financially successful.
When Illegal Hustles Become Normal
The comedian’s remarks also touch on a wider conversation about how society defines success. For some young people, being called “sharp” can be a badge of honour, especially when it is linked to making quick money or living a flashy lifestyle.
Butita, however, appears to be drawing a clear line between being street-smart and taking advantage of other people.
His argument is that repeatedly celebrating conmen risks making dishonesty look like an acceptable path to success. Once illegal activities become normalised, the consequences can extend beyond individual victims to society at large.
A Question About What Society Celebrates
Butita’s remarks have therefore sparked an important question: Are Kenyans sometimes too quick to celebrate money without asking how it was acquired?
For him, making money by deceiving another person should not earn someone praise or the title of being “sharp.” Instead, he believes the language used to describe such behaviour matters because it can influence what younger generations come to view as acceptable.
The debate ultimately goes beyond the “sharp boys” label and raises questions about the kind of success society chooses to admire.
