On Wednesday, March 16, former President Uhuru Kenyatta made an impromptu visit to the famous Kenyatta Market in Nairobi. During the unannounced visit, the former Head of State interacted with the traders before addressing them from the top of his range Mercedes Benz G Wagon G63.
As the former Head of State, who drove himself in the prestigious vehicle, held conversations with the traders and addressed them, most of them were seeking a one-on-one audience with him.
For one Karanja Maina, a car wash attendant, he was lucky to have a one-on-one encounter with the former President. While he was aware a prominent leader would be visiting the market, he was not aware it would be the former President.
Using his wits in search of business, Maina found himself next to the driver's door of Uhuru's Mercedes Benz G Wagon without the knowledge that it was the former Head of State.
He told a local TV that he was astonished to see the former President alight from the vehicle.
"I went to the driver's door to offer my car wash services and as well see who it was. I was shocked to see that it was Uhuru and he was driving himself," he narrated.
However, the upbeat car detailer stated that his hopes were shattered after Uhuru's entourage made way to a hotel without giving him the green light to go ahead and wash it.
"I greeted him and asked if I can wash the car. I was okay with a yes or no answer, but he left me standing there like a statue as they went to the hotel," he recounted.
The car wash attendant added that he would have charged the Commander-in-Chief (CIC) Ksh1 billion in the event that he received permission to wash the vehicle valued at over Ksh20 million.
He explained that his pricing was not exaggerated, adding that his demand was pocket change to Uhuru.
"For someone like that, you don't ask for millions, you ask for billions because these days in the country we talk about billions and trillions, and he gives it out. He is the big man," he stated.
Maina added that he would have used the money to open an exclusive car wash and name it after his client.
Despite missing out on a lifetime opportunity, he expressed optimism of meeting Uhuru again, further asking for a job from the former Head of State.
"I would want a nice modern car wash and name it after me and if I got another child, I would name them Muigai. I would also name another car wash after Uhuru because it is him who would have financed it," he stated.
