How I Made My First Million - Sonko

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been a man under siege in the recent past since the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) went after him for allegedly misappropriating Ksh300 million from public coffers.

The governor has been unable to shake off his chequered past that includes his arrest and subsequent jailing at the Shimo la Tewa prison in 1998. 

Ever since his debut into Nairobi politics in after winning the Makadara Constituency by-election on September 20, 2010, Kenyans have consistently speculated over the source of his wealth amazed by his flamboyant and philanthropic ways. 

 

In an Interview with NTV in May 2019, Governor Sonko gave a glimpse into the sources of his wealth by revealing how he made his first Million.

Sonko stated that he made his first million while still in secondary school, specifically Form Three, from commissions he earned from selling land to foreign investors.

He further claimed that he built his first four-storey building in Kwale the same year and another house the following year while in Form Four.

Sonko would later move to Nairobi after clearing secondary school to live in Buruburu where his father lived as he made a few investments within the city.

"I had a movie library, a salon, a barbershop, a boutique which was run by my wife this was around 1998 or 1999 and I remember being among the first people to have matatus with screens which brought me over Ksh40,000 per day," the governor stated.

He further revealed that he owned the Coco Lounge Bar which on a good weekend would rake him in over Ksh 4 million and boasted of being the one who introduced Bongo Music to Kenya by inviting the then big wigs to his club.

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