Your story is a typical rags-to-riches tale. How was it like growing up?
I was born and brought up in the Kahurura Forest section of Mt Kenya region in Kieni, Nyeri County. My father worked as a dresser at a dispensary in the Kahurura Forest area, while my mother was a home manager who also engaged in peasant farming.
My parents were poor. I am the 11th child in a family of 12.
When you say your parents were poor, what exactly do you mean?
I led a normal village boy’s life. I went to a village school where we did not wear shoes. I remember I first wore a pair of shoes when I was in Standard Four.
My elder sister who lived in Nairobi bought me the shoes and I was super excited. I wore the second pair when I was joining secondary school.
Was life that difficult?
Yes. At the age of 10, I decided to make a difference. I chose to live in faith. I managed to join Moi University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in education.
During my free time, I sold clothes. After completing university, I bought vegetables at Kinangop and sold them in Githurai, Nairobi.
Seems business runs in your blood...
Oh yes! In fact, when I got a chance to further my studies in Johannesburg, South Africa for nine months, I engaged in some businesses. While I was employed as a high school teacher at Kiarithaini Secondary School in Mathira, Nyeri County, I had an old lorry which I used for transport business before I joined politics.
How did you get into politics?
I used to live in Nanyuki town, where I was engaged in transport business. Due to the nature of my job, I used to hang around Nanyuki main bus terminus where people discussed politics.
I used to support various candidates, but I never imagined myself being a politician. I remember during the 1997 General Election, my friends urged me to give it a shot and promised to support me.
Did you win?
I was elected on a DP (Democratic Party) ticket, but the nominations were a big hurdle. Some people wanted to rig me out and so I got another nomination certificate from Safina just in case I lost a petition I had filed. I couldn’t raise the Sh50,000 that parliamentary candidates were required to pay.
People, especially those I competed against during my first entry into politics called me makanga (tout), but they were surprised when a panel of elections petition jury led by retired President Mwai Kibaki ruled that I won the by-election.
Where did you get the money?
I remember it was two days to the nominations when a stranger came to my house. He wanted to buy my lorry and offered me Sh90,000. The rest of the money I used to settle debts.
Did your friends support you?
Not all of them. I remember a former colleague at Kiarithaini Secondary School who told me off when I informed him I was running for the Laikipia East parliamentary seat. He said in a packed staffroom that I only had a bed and a kerosene stove in my house.
He claimed I had nothing to show despite my ambitions to become an MP. He sarcastically pledged to give me Sh10,000 if I garnered 100 votes, and he was surprised when I got the nominations and went on to win the elections by more than 22,000 votes, while the runner-up garnered a paltry 5,000 votes.
What drives you?
My determination to become a different person. I worked hard and trusted in God. I also have faith in all my goals. I advise the youth to trust in themselves and also have faith in what they do. Do not fear to try something new.