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Has Valentine’s Day become more about spending than love?
27th January, 2026 05:03 PM
You remember that catchy Valentine’s Day is coming… where is your boyfriend? Yes! That one. A song that once trended on social media and sent netizens’ ribs cracking. It is a stuck reminder that singles and people in relationships alike that lovers’ day is right around the corner. And by now, it’s all over TikTok and Instagram.
For some, it is just a funny TikTok or a meme to share in the group chat, but for others, it has become a full-on pressure cooker. Suddenly, everyone is talking about flowers, fancy dinners, and romantic getaways. If one scrolls through WhatsApp statuses or Instagram Reels, Na hakuna kulia Valentine quickly turns into Where are the roses?, Show me the bouquet, or Kuna nani amefanya proposal? It is all fun and jokes until one checks the bank account and remembers that love can come with a price.
This raises the question that many Kenyans are quietly asking: have we turned Valentine’s Day into a spending festival rather than a celebration of love?
Valentine’s season arrives like a global fever, infecting everyone with heart-shaped expectations, overpriced dinners, and the subtle panic of finding a last-minute gift. But can we escape the obvious expectation and start celebrating and enjoying true love?
When romance meets retail
In Kenya, Valentine’s Day begins long before February 14. Florists in Nairobi and the rest of the country start decorating their shops with red and pink ribbons, while malls promote special Valentine’s packages and hotels advertise themed dinners that can be surprisingly expensive.
Valentine’s Day used to be about small gestures, like a card or a bouquet, but over time, gifts and experiences have become the main way people express affection. Chocolates, dinner reservations, romantic trips, and even surprise proposals have become the standard measures of commitment.
At its most extravagant, some couples have taken Valentine’s spending to a whole new level, gifting cars, plots of land, and even houses to their partners. This is how over-the-top Valentine’s has become, with some celebrations feeling less like a day of love and more like a display of wealth and status.
At its best, spending can be meaningful. It could be a carefully chosen gift, a meal that is personal, or simply carving out quality time together. At its worst, it can make love feel like a contest to see who can spend the most, especially when social media turns every gesture into a public scoreboard.
Singles rolling eyes
February on social media is a battlefield for singles. Couples post matching outfits, candlelit dinners, and rings glinting in the sunset, while you are over here debating if your instant noodles count as a date. Memes try to help survival kits of chocolate, wine, and Netflix, but scrolling through endless heart-shaped posts still feels like a subtle jab at your love life.
Every TikTok hand-holding slow-mo, every Galentine’s brunch, every overly romantic caption is a reminder: February is tough when you are single, no matter how hard you try to laugh it off.
Pressure cooker
Valentine’s Day has become a major economic boost. From flower sellers along busy streets to restaurants offering special menus, commercial activity peaks. While this can be fun and exciting, it can also cloud the original purpose of the day, which was to celebrate love and connection.
Many people in Kenya now associate love with the size of a gift or the cost of a dinner. Social media amplifies this idea, as couples share fancy dinners, bouquets, and romantic trips online. For some, the pressure is not just financial but emotional.
Posting a reel or a picture with a partner can feel like proof of love to the public rather than to the person themselves. When Valentine’s Day becomes more about how it looks than how it feels, the original essence of the celebration can get lost.
World of likes and bills
Valentine’s Day in Kenya often feels like a contest between the number of likes on social media and the size of your bill. Everywhere you look, couples are posting carefully staged dinners, matching outfits, and expensive gifts, all perfectly lit for the camera. It can make the rest of us feel like a simple coffee date or a quiet evening at home does not quite measure up.
But the truth is, the most memorable moments of Valentine’s are rarely the ones that cost the most or get the most attention online. Genuine love is in the little things. It is in the handwritten note left on a pillow, the surprise message sent late at night, or the shared laughter over a silly inside joke. It is in noticing the small things about someone and showing them that you care.
Valentine’s Day can be a chance to celebrate love in all its forms. It is about connecting with a partner, a close friend, or even yourself. Taking the time to make someone feel appreciated matters far more than posting the perfect photo or spending money just to impress.
At the end of the day, love is not about the price tag or how many hearts you collect online. It is about thoughtfulness, connection, and the joy shared between people who truly care. The moments that stick are the ones filled with genuine attention and affection, no matter how simple or small.
