Modern times have pushed the narrative of moving out at 20 or 21, and it has largely been embraced. While the parents’ home is seen as a free place you pay for with your mental health, it is a strategic base for many and a point of debate for others.
Let’s explore both sides of this dilemma, using the case of Kenyan creator Hoch Muhoro to anchor the conversation.
Is moving out a strategic sanctuary or stunted growth?
For decades, the metric of success for a young African adult was defined by finishing school, getting a job, and getting your own roof. To stay a day longer was to invite whispers of a failure narrative. However, as the cost of living in cities like Nairobi skyrockets and the digital economy changes how we work, the rules of independence are being rewritten.
Hoch Muhoro redefining narratives
The conversation recently reached a fever pitch following the story of Hoch Muhoro, a Kenyan digital creator who lives with his mother. To traditionalists, his situation is an anomaly, perhaps even a failure. But to a growing number of digital nomads and strategic savers, Hoch represents a bold counter-narrative.
Hoch argues that his choice isn’t about an inability to provide but about companionship, care, and the rejection of societal timelines that don’t serve the individual. His relationship with his mother, documented with transparency, highlights a shift from dependence to intentional cohabitation.
The argument for moving out
Proponents of moving out early argue that the cold world is the only place where true character is built. There is a unique psychological drive that comes from knowing your next meal depends entirely on your hustle. This survival mode often sparks the creativity and resilience needed to excel in competitive industries.
Living alone offers the freedom to fail, to host, and to explore one’s identity without the background noise of parental expectations or curfews. In many circles, including the dating market, living at home carries a stigma of immaturity that can be hard to shake, regardless of your bank balance.
The argument for staying home
On the flip side, the Hoch Muhoro approach offers benefits that the struggle-to-pay-rent lifestyle cannot match. By eliminating rent, individuals can funnel that capital into investments, equipment for digital creation, or emergency funds.
The isolation of life alone can be brutal. Multigenerational living provides a support system that wards off the loneliness often associated with early adulthood. Living at home also allows adult children to support ageing parents, creating a symbiotic relationship rather than a parasitic one.
Context is necessary
Is it better to move out? The answer is not a yes or no, but a when and why. If staying at home makes you lazy, complacent, and fearful, it is a cage. But if, like Hoch Muhoro, it provides the peace of mind to create and the opportunity to cherish family bonds, then it is a strategic advantage.
Independence isn’t just about having your name on a lease; it’s about the ability to make decisions that best serve your future self. Maybe the most adult thing you can do is ignore the neighbours and stay where you are supported.
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