Kenyan musician and businesswoman Esther Akoth, popularly known as Akothee, recently shared some pointed advice on social media about friendships and mental health. As a mother of five and a successful entrepreneur, Akothee’s words often resonate with her followers, and this time was no different.

In her post, she urged women to be cautious about whom they trust and the nature of their friendships. She began by highlighting a common pitfall: mistaking gossip for bonding. “WOMAN DON’T MISTAKE GOSSIPS FOR BONDING. Your GOSSIPMATE is not your best friend; you have a common enemy,” she wrote, emphasizing that gossiping can create a false sense of closeness that can be damaging in the long run.

The Value of Discretion in Friendships

Akothee went on to advise women to closely examine their social circles. She warned that secrets shared with a best friend may not remain private, as that friend could share them with others. “Make sure anything you share with your best friend is no longer a secret because your best friend has a best friend who has a best friend,” she explained. This underscores the importance of discretion and the need to be mindful of the people with whom one shares personal information.

She also touched on the danger of rekindling relationships with people who have joined one’s critics or haters. According to Akothee, allowing such individuals back into your life is like “taking back your vomit.” This metaphor illustrates how harmful it can be to reintroduce negativity into your life, potentially leading to more harm than good.