The renowned scholar, founder and chairman of Mount Kenya University Dr Simon Gicharu has passed through thick and thin to become who he is today.
Dr Gicharu who was once an employee of Teachers Service Commission lost his job and was forced to sell milk to survive.
Announcing on twitter about his life journey, he tweeted:
When I was fired by TSC in 1995, I started hawking milk in Thika to support my family. I did my rounds in an old Chevy pickup, such as this one. Friends laughed at me, calling me a ‘failed graduate’. But this didn’t shake me. Self-belief is the key to success.
Brief History
Dr. Simon Gicharu is an educationalist and founder of Mount Kenya University, which is East and Central Africa’s largest private university.
He was born in 1964 in Gathiruini village, in Kiambu County, Kenya. He is the first in a family of seven.
Dr. Gicharu is also the Chairman of the Rural Electrification Authority and National Private Universities Owners Association of Kenya.
He is the founder of Equip Africa Institute and patron of the Graduate Enterprise Academy.
He is also a board member at Thika Water and Sewerage Company, and the patron of Inter Universities Rover Moot under the Kenya Scouts Association. In 2015, Dr. Gicharu was named the Eastern African Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He is married with three children.
Some of the Kenyans had kind words for his touching story:
Your “downfall” was converted to a success of many. Without MKU virtual which was affordable and convenient I wouldn’t have been where I am now. I managed to study while working in Mandera. Mandera is 1200 KM from Nairobi. Kudos!— 🇰🇪 True Kenyan 🇰🇪 (@Mwasbid) April 29, 2019
Hapo uliweza 💪— Larry Saja 🇰🇪 (@saja_larry) April 29, 2019
Inspiring Sir— Hervé GIRIHIRWE (@herve_dm) April 29, 2019
Talk of frm northing to smething— Yours Truely (@VictorWereh) April 29, 2019
Your stories inspired me right from the time i enrolled at MKU……graduated 8 years ago n doing great. Be blessed— Gracy_sila (@Gracysilla) April 29, 2019
You have been an inspiration to many,and personally ,a Role Model, I am longing for the day I will quit employment and go for entrepreneurship…Long live Sir— Hillz (@Hillzck) April 29, 2019
Motivating Sir..
Would love to hear more to it…— soundmaxtech (@njagingwiri) April 29, 2019
truly you made the right choice that many have benefited with am who am because of Mku big ups chairman— mutai gideon (@gideonkimutai77) April 29, 2019
Where are those who sacked you?— small axe (@smallaxe8) April 29, 2019