When you look at most celebrities in Kenya, you would be tempted to conclude that they found themselves famous and rich out of nowhere.
However that’s not the case as a majority of the Kenyan celebs rose from humble beginnings to achieve incredible success which is quit inspirational.
Now, Times Digital focuses on some of the Kenyan celebrities who defied all odds by fighting themselves out of poverty to earn wealth in different ways.
Kenyan celebrities who rose from poverty
Akothee
Controversial Kenya artist Akothee is arguably one of the richest musicians in Kenya despite being raised in a humble background.
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Raised in a remote village in Rongo, Migori, Akothee faced hardships in her childhood as her family struggled to survive.
The extreme poverty in her family forced her to drop out and getting married at a young age of only 14. She would struggle in her life which saw her sleep in colds after men threw her out of their houses.
The tough life was a lesson to her and within several year she used as an inspiration to earn fortune which she enjoys upto date.
“I do not know why God didn’t let me know that one day I will be successful and have everything” Akothee reminisced as quoted by The Star.
Dr King’ori
The media personality is undoubtedly one of the most charismatic TV hosts in Kenya despite being raised in poverty.
King’ori whose mother was a casual worker in a hospital had a dream of her son being a medical doctor so as to break the ‘poverty’ curse in their family. So as to mold King’ori she ensured that he went to primary school as required.
However, the young King’ori faced several challenges such as going to school with her mother’s shoes due to abject poverty in their family.
“I remember when I was in grade seven, I almost went to school without shoes, my shoes were so worn out, but creativity was tested. I went to school with my mother’s shoes, I remember the pair very well. It was a pair of high heeled boots”. King’ori recalled during a past interview.
Years after completing his primary school, Dr King’ori joined one of the best schools in their region. After he successfully finished his secondary education, King’ori took a different path (of being a doctor) to a media personality.
Babu Owino
Embakasi East member of parliament Babu Owino grew up in a family where only education would take him out of poverty. The youthful MP, studied with passion despite having no regular food school fees. To make both ends meet, Babu Owino burned the midnight oil to study at night and the following morning he sold Chang’aa to raise his fees.
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“I had to burn the midnight oil to study at the same time sell chang’aa to raise my school fees,”. Babu Owino revealed as quoted by The Standard.
Now Babu Owino who is his second term as a Member of Parliament is wealthy and prosperous.
Khaligraph Jones
Before his breakthrough in the music industry in Kenya, Khaligraph Jones was just an ordinary rapper in the streets of Nairobi. Just recently, Jones revealed that he dropped out of secondary school due to lack of school fees as his family struggled financially.
Now, Jones is seemingly enjoying fortunes he has earned throughout the years as a rap icon in Kenya.
His past has never affected his journey to success as he has risen to be recognized as one of the best rappers not only in Kenya but also Africa.
Jalang’o
Lang’ata member of parliament Felix Oduor alias Jalang’o, was raise in family that wasn’t financially stable. The poverty in his family forced him to Join Bar Kanyang’o secondary school after his slot at Maseno high school was sold.
“Kufukuzwa ni kama kawaida, half of the term I was not even in school. Most of the time nasoma tu nkiwa tu nyumbani sasa dadika ya mwisho ndo unaleta [fees] kidogo ndo ufanye mtihani“. Jalang’o recalled as quoted by K24.
Later after completion of his secondary school, Jalang’o worked as a casual laborer at a fish plant in Homa Bay. Few months later, he traveled to Nairobi to seek a job opportunity where he joined the acting industry at the National theater.
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This was just a stepping stone to his acting career as his talent reached new heights after joining popular TV show Papa Shirandula. Jalang’o would later join kiss FM and this was when he ‘bid goodbye’ to poverty. Now, years down the line Jalang’o has worked as radio host in different stations and his great achievement is when he was elected as a Member of parliament.
