Meet Kenya's Most Educated Driver

The lack of white-collar opportunities is a Kenyan graduate's worst nightmare.

Samuel Gachini, is one such graduate, however, what makes his case stand out is the fact that he is almost completing his doctorate degree. 

Gachini, who is pursuing a PhD in Business Administration, ventured into the taxi business due to the high rate of unemployment. 

“I just have to make ends meet. I have applied for hundreds of job opportunities but all I get are regrets, empty promises or no replies at all,” he lamented as he drove on the jam-packed Mombasa Road, towards Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).

The driver disclosed that he bought his Honda Fit car, his current source of income, through a sacco loan.

He completed the course work for the PhD in late 2015 and has since been working on his research and writing his thesis.

The Father of two says has been awaiting clearance from his supervisor to finalise his PhD thesis in The Revival of Economic Development in Kenya Through Regional-sectoral Specialisation, Poverty Reduction Through Financial Literacy in Kenya.

“It is not easy to balance between doing a PhD and driving a taxi, which is a very demanding endeavour. But I can’t give up since I have already put in a lot of effort,” he opened up.

The Moi University Alumnus graduated in December 2013, with a Masters in Banking and Finance. 

The 32-year-old pursued his Master’s degree as he worked as a cashier at a local bank in Murang’a County.

When he started his PhD classes, getting to class in Nairobi from Murang’a was a real hustle.

 

“I travelled in the evenings from Murang’a to Nairobi by matatu to attend classes. Sometimes I failed to make it to class due to frequent traffic snarl-ups,” recalled Gachini.

“I am currently pursuing my doctorate and it has been strenuous and costly to do my thesis, which requires a lot of time,” he wrote in his resignation letter dated June 30, 2016.

By this time, he had worked at the bank for more than four years.