The rise to power of many Kenyan politicians is testament to their resilience. Although most politicians rise to the top through questionable means, some of them come from humble backgrounds and overcome endless obstacles on their journey to prominence.
Rising to the pinnacle of Kenyan politics requires tough skin. Due to the very unique nature of Kenyan politics, aspirants end up encountering both ridicule and skepticism.
However, due to their unwavering determination, some Kenyan politicians have braved the adversity to carve their own place in the political arena.
Kenyans.co.ke has curated a list of five politicians in Kenya who fall into this category, with their previous odd jobs including fishing, cobbling and selling household items (mali mali). Here are their profiles:
Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro
Ndindi Nyoro, a close confidant of President Ruto, is the chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in the National Assembly.
Ndindi Nyoro is a self-made multi-millionaire, having started his entrepreneurship journey as a cobbler and a hawker of sweets.
The legislator did these odd jobs during his teenage life in Murang'a county.
Currently, Ndindi Nyoro enjoys a close relationship with President William Ruto and holds a prominent position as the largest individual shareholder of Kenya Power. His success has positioned him as one of the wealthiest Members of Parliament in the country.
Kikuyu Mp, Kimani Ichungwa
Serving as the leader of Majority in the National assembly, Kimani Ichungwa is one of the most recognisable legislators today.
The vocal MP is an alumnus of the fabled Alliance High school and also enjoys a close relationship with President Ruto
The MP has in a previous interview stated that he once worked as a mali mali trader in Nyamakima in Nairobi County.
Without explaining how the quick transition happened, the MP said the odd job did not last too long because he later on secured a job as an accountant in a bank in 2001 after coming a cross a job advert in a newspaper.
The role was based in Kangemi where he worked until March 2003. As he explained in the interview, he left the accounting job to start a butchery business in Kikuyu in February 2003.
According to him, his new position as an entrepreneur allowed him to interact with alot of people in Kikuyu. This he said, made him so popular that he decided to vie for the Kikuyu MP position in 2013 which he subsequently won on a TNA ticket.
Kapseret Mp, Oscar Sudi
Oscar Sudi, a prominent legislator and a staunch ally of President Ruto, has a life story that epitomizes the journey from humble beginnings to remarkable success.
He grew up in a family that faced significant financial challenges, with his mother working as a grocer and his father as a charcoal vendor.
At a young age, Sudi worked as a cattle herder. He then went to work as a matatu tout.
The MP has previously disclosed that he later bought his own matatu and invested in other businesses like pool table joints and real estate.
Lang’ata Mp, Jalango
Phelix Odiwour, alias, Jalang’o, gained popularity due to his acting career. He caught his big break as a supporting character in the popular Papa Shirandula prime time comedy show.
However, what many people don't know is before that, he was a fisherman in Lake Victoria.
The Lang'ata MP attended Homabay Lake primary school in Homa Bay County before proceeding to Nyang'oma boys Secondary School in Siaya County.
His humble beginnings made him more ambitious in life. At the back of his mind, the acting gig was just a stepping stone to big things. He became so popular that he landed high-profile media jobs in traditional media before forming his own digital media business.
In 2022, he achieved his biggest dream after being elected as the MP for Lang'ata.
Rangwe MP. Lilian Gogo
Lilian Gogo has been Rangwe MP since 2013.
However, what most Kenyans do not know is that Dr. Gogo once worked as a fishmonger, hawking fish in local markets, to sustain herself and support her family.
Despite the challenges , Dr. Gogo pressed on. She pursued her education diligently and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Education from Kenyatta University.
Lilian Gogo's journey is one of the most notable backstories in Kenyan politics especially since it demonstrates sheer resilience.
It is worth noting that these examples are just a few among the many MPs in Kenya who might have had odd jobs before entering politics.
