I Was Warned That Not Everyone Who Smiled at Me Was Truly a Friend, He Says, But I Ignored the Signs, and By the Time I Realized Who Had Betrayed Me, It Was Already Too Late to Save My Reputation, My Business, and the People I Loved
My name is Joseph Muriuki, and for many years, I believed that good intentions were enough to protect a man. I lived in Eldoret, where I ran a fast-growing agribusiness supplying cereals to traders across the Rift Valley. People admired my progress and often praised my openness. I was friendly, trusting, and always willing to help. Many warned me to be careful, saying not everyone who smiled at me was a true friend. I laughed it off, believing that honesty would always defeat jealousy.
As my business expanded, more people came closer. Some claimed they wanted to learn, others said they wanted to support me. I welcomed them all. I shared ideas, allowed access to records, and spoke freely about future plans. The people around me ate with me, travelled with me, and spoke proudly of our friendship. What I did not see was that behind those smiles were people carefully observing my weaknesses and studying how to benefit from my trust.
The first damage was to my reputation. False stories began circulating among traders, accusing me of failing to honor contracts. Some partners stopped answering my calls. Others demanded proof for things I had never done. At the same time, my business started bleeding money. Deals collapsed mysteriously, payments disappeared, and suppliers turned hostile. I felt confused and overwhelmed. The people I trusted told me everything would be fine, yet things only got worse.
