A Kenyan contractor named Obadiah based in the United States of America found an abandoned Porsche Cayenne in downtown Minnesota where he stayed and decide to take and restore it for himself.
Speaking to Huku Yues YouTube channel, Obadiah narrated how picking up the car made him Ksh8 million rich.
According to Obadiah, the car had no side mirrors or brake pads and had flat tires when he picked it up and decided to work on its restoration.
"It is a new car. I spent Ksh861,000 (USD7,000) to repair it but the vehicle itself is worth Ksh8.6 million (USD70,000) in retail. A new one would cost upwards of Ksh12.3 million (USD100,000),” he revealed to Huku Yues.
Kenyans.co.ke sought to understand why it was possible for anyone to pick up an abandoned vehicle and make it their own.
The Minnesota statutes define an "abandoned vehicle" as a motor vehicle that has remained illegally for a period of more than 48 hours on any property owned or controlled by a unit of government, or more than four hours on that property when it is properly posted
Furthermore, the statutes classify a motor vehicle that has remained illegally on private property for a period of time without the consent of the person in control of the property as an abandoned vehicle.
Equally, a vehicle is rendered abandoned if it lacks vital component parts or is in an inoperable condition such that it has no substantial potential for further use consistent with its usual functions according to the statutes.
The Minnesota statutes equally provide for what a "junk vehicle" is by highlighting that a vehicle that is three years old or older; is extensively damaged, with the damage including such things as broken or missing wheels, motor, drive train, or transmission; and is apparently inoperable.
An established contractor working on repairing homes and driveways in the United States, Obadiah's success had something to do with his networks.
Particularly, the Kenyan disclosed that he often gets his contracts from a friend he studied with at Normandale Community College in Minnesota State.
"I occasionally get these contracts through my friend who runs an agency that deals in construction and renovations of homes and estates," he stated.
Obadiah also indicated that he was an employer with a group of handymen who worked for him every time he was contracted for any work.
"I have guys I work with who help me get the work done, I pay them handsomely too to a figure around Ksh4,305 (USD35)," he disclosed.
Before he established himself, Obadiah confessed that life was not easy at first as he had to work odd jobs just to get by.
"I have worked in elderly foster homes and got short-term employment with various companies around here. I would however revert to foster home care as it was more rewarding," he revealed.
It is important to note that every State in the US has different rules about when and how a vehicle is considered abandoned, thus it is imperative that one checks with their state DMV before starting the process of claiming an abandoned car.
