Phil Karanja Reflects on Costly Investment Mistakes

Acclaimed filmmaker Phillip Karanja has opened up about regrettable investment decisions that cost him millions of shillings, including ventures in land and missed opportunities he believes could have earned him substantial returns with better guidance.

Popularly known as Phil, the 37-year-old attributes some of these mistakes to the absence of a father figure during his 20s, a critical time when he began earning enough money to explore investments.

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Phil first gained fame on the iconic TV show Tahidi High, alongside his business partner Abel Mutua, while still in their second year of film studies. Initially earning Ksh. 500 per episode, their pay eventually rose to Ksh. 20,000 before they left after four years. The duo transitioned into budding film directors and scriptwriters, landing roles in productions like Mother-in-Law, where Phil served as director while Abel was the scriptwriter.

Their demanding schedules left little time for socializing, straining friendships and even requiring Phil’s mother to make appointments to see him. Reflecting on that period, Phil shared in a YouTube interview, “Because we were always working, friends stopped inviting us out. People would ask where our money was going since we weren’t partying like others our age.”

Growing up in poverty in Nairobi, Phil avoided wasteful spending and prioritized saving. However, his early investments didn’t always pay off. At 22, he bought his first piece of land, only to discover it was a scam, as he never received the title deed. By 24, he and Abel purchased their first cars—older Mercedes Benz models—with Phil spending Ksh. 400,000 on his.

“I never wanted to be poor again,” Phil said. “I was focused on building wealth, and that remains my goal today.” Despite setbacks, he views these experiences as valuable lessons.

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After losing his initial land investment, Phil hesitated to invest in land again until he was 32. He now wishes he had a mentor to guide him earlier, as consistent land purchases would have yielded significant returns.

Phil also shared a missed opportunity to invest in Safaricom shares when they were priced at Ksh. 3 each. He recalled visiting a stock market firm with Ksh. 50,000 but abandoning the idea after feeling judged for being young. Instead, he spent the money on a new phone. “If I had invested in Safaricom back then, that Ksh. 50,000 would now be worth Ksh. 1.6 million,” he lamented.

Though he acknowledges his youthful missteps, Phil sees them as crucial learning experiences that have shaped his approach to wealth building.