Kenyan Billionaire Recounts Surviving on Ksh200 Salary [VIDEO]

Every billionaire has their grass to grace story and Chandaria Industries owner Manu Chandaria's story is a rather enlightening one.

During a live interview on Metropol TV on Tuesday, October 29, the softspoken tycoon revealed that before the riches, he had to cope with a meagre salary of Ksh200.

He also disclosed that due to the hardship he experienced at the time together with his family, he had to give his brother Ksh190 from his salary for his extended family's needs. The family had 36 members who lived in the same compound.

It was at that time Chandaria got a job at a company identified as Kalu Works Limited. He stated that his cousins, together with himself, had to endure working back to back as they had no luxury of enjoying a free day, even on public holidays.

Billionaire Manu Chandaria recalled that he earned Ksh200 salary and had to give his brother Ksh190 to run the home.

Billionaire Manu Chandaria recalled that how he earned Ksh200 salary and had to give his brother Ksh190 to run their home that consisted 36 members of his extended family.

"In a joint family, there is only one home. There are only 36 members in one home staying together. My salary was at Ksh200.

"Out of the Ksh200, my brother would take Ksh190 for running the home and I would have Ksh10. That was it," narrated Chandaria.

Despite the tough situation, he continued, the family was inspired to keep going by the hardship that his father went through while living in Kenya.

Chandaria shared his father's journey while in Kenya explaining that he was immensely affected by Hitler's era in Somalia and lack of understanding due to language barrier.

"My father had a dream of making 4,000 Rupees (around Ksh5,800) and go back to India. After 6 months of hard work, they agreed on a salary and he made 20 Rupees (Ksh30) a month.

"Also, he had only studied three vernaculars from India and nothing further than that. He faced difficulty because everywhere he went he could not speak, read or write in English so he had to get a translator," recalled Chandaria.

"During 1940s, the Mussolini ruling Italian Somaliland and Hitler joined hands. So my father felt that the war was coming to Kenya so they decided to take children, ladies and the old back to India," he added.

When they boarded the ship, the businessman recalled that it was steered very fast into the deep seas in fear that it would be attacked by Hitler's men.

Chandaria has worked hard with his firms since then and grew employees from just five people to stand at the over 500. He is the chairman of the steel and aluminum group, Comcraft and the Chandaria Foundation.

Below is the video of Chandaria's narration courtesy of Metropol TV: