Despite being a favourite of President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nelson Gaichuhie lost to the little known Samuel Gachobe who was totally new to the corridors of power.
According to a source close to Gachobe, the MP ventured into hawking in 1995 within Nyahururu Town in Laikipia County.
“With a capital of Ksh 3,000, he ventured into hawking sufurias, plates and spoons. He would walk around shouting and selling the items commonly known as ‘mali mali’.
“At this time, very few people were involved in the specific business, therefore earnings were a bit high,” remarked the source.
Through the job that many would rather take as simple and non-profitable, Gachobe grew to become one of the well-known businessmen in the area.
“After some years, Gachobe was able to open a branch in Nyahururu Town where he kept on enlarging the business.
“Through the profits made in the shop at Nyahururu, he was able to open a branch at Nakuru Town that now marked the major rise in profits for him,” added the source.
In 2017, Gachobe decided to give politics a trial at his home constituency and eventually won against Gaichuhie who had an upper hand of personally being close to the president.
During the Jubilee nominations in 2017, the political amateur trounced the incumbent Gaichuhie. The latter joined a host of aspirants who vied independently in the General Election but still lost.
Gachobe enrolled at St Paul University in 2013 for a diploma in leadership management, a course he completed in 2015.
He later started his degree course at the same university later that year.
Gaichuhie had been elected as an MP in December 2007, on a Party of National Unity ticket, ousting long-time politician Koigi Wamwere.
After losing in the 2017 elections, President Kenyatta brought Gaichuhie back to power when he appointed him as chief administrative secretary at the National Treasury in January 2018.
He joined the key ministry which was at the time lead by former CS Henry Rotich.
Despite Rotich and his former PS Kamau Thugge losing their jobs over graft charges, Gaichuhie remained at the ministry, now working under Ukur Yattani.
