‘I cannot teach you integrity’: How employee theft is hurting small businesses in Africa
Kenyan food creator That Girl Boina closed her Nairobi waxing studio after a customer alerted her that staff had directed payments to a different number. The episode highlights how employee theft can undermine small businesses, particularly where a small team handles payments and stock with little oversight.
Boina opened Waxaholic Studio in September 2024 and shut it in October 2025 after revenues fell and she concluded the business was not profitable. Her account later drew close to one million views and prompted other Kenyan owners to describe losses from diverted payments, stolen stock and equipment. A 2022 PwC survey found 63% of East African respondents said their organisations had experienced economic crime, compared with 46% globally.
In short
- A customer’s message exposed diverted payments at Boina’s studio.
- Waxaholic Studio closed in October 2025.
- East African businesses report high levels of economic crime.
Explained simply
Small businesses often rely on a few employees to take payments, manage stock and serve customers, leaving owners with limited oversight of daily transactions. Theft can include directing customer payments to a personal number or taking products and equipment.
Kenyan creator That Girl Boina opened Waxaholic Studio in Nairobi in September 2024. She later said falling revenue led her to close it in October 2025, and that a customer had alerted her to staff redirecting payments. Her account prompted other Kenyan business owners to describe similar losses.
The issue matters because a small business may have little financial room to absorb missing income or stock. A 2022 PwC survey found that 63% of East African respondents said their organisations had experienced economic crime, compared with 46% globally.