A holiday in Europe turned into a nightmare for Kenyan entrepreneur That Girl Boina when a customer’s message revealed issues at her Nairobi business. While on a two-week break, she received an Instagram message alerting her that a different payment number had been used at her waxing and hydrafacial parlour, Waxaholic Studio, which she opened on 1 September 2024.
Despite running a profitable business initially, Boina noticed a decline in revenue moving into 2025. Although she initially attributed the drop to seasonal factors, she soon realised something was seriously wrong. “Everyone around was making money apart from me,” she reflected.
The tipping point came when the customer’s message prompted Boina to take a closer look at her finances. Feeling the strain as her business struggled despite her dedication and investment, Boina ultimately decided to close the studio in October 2025 after unsuccessful attempts to sell it.
Reflecting on that difficult time, she recalled a moment in a restaurant where she broke down in tears, facing the reality that her venture had not only failed financially but had also taken a significant emotional toll.
Almost a year after closing, Boina opened up about her experience in a viral TikTok video, which resonated with many in Kenya who have faced similar theft issues in their businesses. She noted that, while she has moved on emotionally, she has yet to recover her initial financial investment.
Her story brought to light a pressing issue for small business owners in Africa, as employee theft remains a significant concern due to lax oversight in many companies. A 2022 PwC survey highlighted this problem, revealing that 63% of businesses in East Africa reported experiences of economic crime, significantly higher than the global average of 46%.
