Ndindi Nyoro: From Hawker to Earning Ksh700K as MP

Rags-to-riches stories remind us that through determination, grit, and a little bit of luck anyone can overcome their circumstances and achieve extraordinary success. … No matter how ambitious, driven, or disciplined you are, we all have days when we need a little extra kick to get up and make it happen.

The good news is – It’s never too late to become a success story. This has been the story of famous politician, Ndindi Nyoro.  Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, on Saturday, April 1, narrated how he rose from a librarian and hawker to now being a two-term MP.

He spoke while attending a prize-giving ceremony at Thika High School where he encouraged the students to strive for excellence.

He narrated how while working as a librarian at Kiambugi Secondary School, he was earning Ksh3,000 and part of it was being deducted to repay his fee arrears. The school-fee debt accrued while he was studying at that school.

“While in high school I had two ambitions; to be wealthy and to be a leader,” he remarked.

Notably as of 2022, MPs are entitled to a minimum monthly salary of between Ksh621,250 and Ksh710,000.

In a review by the Salaries Remuneration Commission (SRC) in July 2022, MPs and Senators were to earn Ksh710,000 each among other allowances.

Furthermore, he detailed that in form one he used to mend shoes for other students before progressing to run the canteen while in form two. Nyoro also narrated working as a hawker while in form three to pay for his school fees as his family was unable to cater for the cost. “I saw that the school canteen was being run by school clubs, so I ran for as many club chairmanships as possible so that I could run the canteen uninterrupted. I used to go home with bags of shopping,” he narrated.

While at Kenyatta University (KU) studying Bachelor of Arts (Economics) between 2005 and 2009, he established a business while in his second year and he also wrote a book.

On the last page of the book I indicated I was a student at KU and the future Kiharu MP,” Nyoro recalled.

He further emphasised that his entrepreneurial side kicked in at an early age adding, “I asked my mum to pray for me not to get a job, I did the maths and realised I would earn less if I was employed.”

Nyoro encouraged the students to be open-minded while in school as well as outside emphasising the importance of self-employment.

“The sky is the limit, if you become a cardiologist, you are not limited to working at an established hospital, you can start your own,” he added.

Key lessons from Ndindi Nyoro’s story

Passion over everything – find the thing that you are super passionate about and just do it. Every day! Focus is the most important ingredient to success. If the choices you make today aren’t supporting the dreams you have for tomorrow, you’re doing the wrong thing.

Another major thing from the politician’s success story is that we should not limit ourselves. Dream bigger, don’t just see yourself as that employee when you can one day start your own company and keep doing what you love. The sky is the limit!

STORY COURTESY OF: KENYANS.CO.KE