if your daily expenditure is between US$4 and $20, wewe uko ndani ya kenyan middle class club.

Perhaps it would be better to advice them on where to go for relatively cheaper alternatives. Thinking a loud too, life is all about being happy. If they can afford, then let them be - after all life is about choices.

When 'we' talk of middle class whom are we referring to.

Ok, let me try:

1. Upper class - Land barons, Business owners, industrialists etc e.g Kenyattas, Mois, Delameres, Chandarias, Kibakis, Michukis, Ndegwas etc live in own homes in Muthaiga, Karen, Runda, lavington in stand alone homes. Are employers. Do not need to work to survive. Buy top of range cars eg mercs, rangerovers, toyota VXs etc from show rooms. Kids attend international schools locally or abroad.

2. Middle class - are people who need to have a job and earn a salary to survive. Can be categorised into 3 broad groups

2(a). Upper middle class - CEOs, top managers, top civil servants, parastatal chiefs etc. Live in company houses or own homes in runda, Muthaiga, lavington, Ridgeways etc. Most own homes or pay rent 150-250k. They do not live in apartments but rather stand alone homes. Biggest buyers of homes going for 30-40m in Karen etc. Also includes expatriates in top NGOs eg UN. Earn over 500k net pm. Most have graduate degrees plus MBAs. Some buy new cars but most buy top of range Mitumbas eg. used range rovers, mercs, VXs, Prados etc. Kids in top local private schools.

2 (b) Mid middle class - most middle level managers, most professionals eg doctors, accountants, engineers, IT, lecturers, lawyers etc. They earn below 300k net pm. Live in apartments (their own or rented) in Westlands,lavington, kileleshwa etc. since they cannot afford stand alone homes in those areas. Some own homes in areas such as South C, B, Syokimau, Buru, langata etc. Can afford homes worth upto 20m. Most pay rents of 40-100k pm. Most have undergraduate degrees. Drive 'newer' used mitumbas e.g. prados, Rav 4s, premios, Mark X, subarus etc depending on income. Kids in 'mid-cost' private schools. Very showy class that apes and pretends to be upper middle class.

2 (c) Lower middle class - ordinary professional employees who carry out day to day activities in companies, organisations, institutions eg. ordinary civil servants, junior bank employees/tellers, teachers. Many do not own homes and can only rent. Majority live in rented houses in eastlands, Rongai, Kitengela etc. Most earn below 150k and pay rents of 20-50k. May have Bachelors degrees, diplomas. Some drive old mitumbas. Kids may attend low cost private schools.

3. Lower class: have blue collar jobs e.g drivers, production line employees, junior clerks etc. Most live in eastlands, Kangemi, Kawangware, kayole etc or even in slums. Most earn below 50k net. Pay rents below 15k. They do not have degrees. Most do not drive. Kids in public schools.

4. Underclass - don't have formal employment eg mjengo guys, makangas, househelps, petty traders etc. Earn less than 20k pm. Most live in the slums and pay rents of 1-8k. Kids in public schools.

sorry, if I struck a wrong nerve, you are very right in your observations, if you can afford it go for the most expensive. after all you will get the best medical care, your car will be the most stable and will get the best service, your kids will turn out best and your shopping will always be without a hitch.