Gathuo Gichuru’s journey from being a student leader at Kenyatta University to becoming a hawker of jackets and hoods has been one of twists and turns, triumphs and losses.
After completing his degree in economics and being a student leader, Gathuo joined the banking industry. However, he soon realized that he did not want to be an employee but an employer. With this goal in mind, he decided to start his own business in the transport industry. He was able to earn a decent income and sometimes made as much as 15,000 shillings.
Despite his success in the business, Gathuo decided to shift his focus to politics. He was convinced by his friends to run for the Laikipia senatorial race in 2013 and believed that he would win. Unfortunately, he lost the election and spent all of his savings during the campaign. He was left with a debt of 2 million shillings and no source of income.
Gathuo’s losses were not limited to his finances. His family and first wife left him, and he fell into depression, turning to alcohol and miraa to cope.
However, Gathuo did not give up. He ran for the senatorial seat again in 2017 but lost, leaving him with no income. He sold much of his properties in Nairobi and Kinamba, Laikipia county, to support his campaigns.
This time, he turned to hawking jackets and hoods to make a living. Despite coming from a polygamous family with 24 siblings and rich relatives, no one came to his rescue from the streets, not even his family, whom he believed betrayed him.
“I am battling depression as my first wife left me in 2013 after I lost the race while the second left immediately in 2017. I banked on my siblings who also betrayed me. I was left with nothing and thus I decided to be a hawker to earn a living,” he said in a past interview.
Gathuo revealed that he was advised by a doctor to engage in self-employment instead of being idle, which has helped him heal. Despite having a degree in Economics from Kenyatta University, CPAs up to level four, and a diploma in computer engineering, Gathuo claimed that no job was coming his way.
Gathuo also lamented that his friends in politics, including Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, former nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura, and Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia, whom he served together as student leaders at Kenyatta University, had all left him.
He claimed he was the one who introduced Nyoro and Kaguchia into university politics.
Despite his struggles, Gathuo said that former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga once gave him Ksh 20,000 after finding him stranded and very broke.
“No one has come to my rescue except former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga who once gave me Ksh 20,000 after he found me stranded and very broke,“ he said.
