Billionaire and Mount Kenya University founder Simon Gicharu has received unpredictable backlash after opening up on his grass to grace story.
He took to Twitter to share the challenges he faced upon being fired by the Teachers Service Commission in 1995, leading up to who he is now.
Gicharu said he embarked on hawking milk around Thika town in order to support his family, a role that was way below his education level and societal expectations.
In the post shared on Monday, April 29, the educationist said his colleagues laughed at his desperation and could not imagine how his alternative plan could help him out of the mess.
The billionaire recalls being called a “failed graduate” as he hustled around the town in an old Chevy pickup distributing milk to his clients.
“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,” he stated in a tweet.
This tweet garnered as many likes as dislikes. While some got motivated, others did not . Here are some of the reactions:
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
Don’t tell people your dreams. Show them, you are truly inspirational 🤝👍🙏— Peter Gitata (@macgitata) April 29, 2019
I remember when MKU was Thika Institute of Tech @ the formative stages to bulge into one of the biggest learning institutions in EA with presence in virtually centers spread across the country not to mention changes socio/economic impact etc etc etc!!!— ASCETIC IDEAL (@RobertOuko62) April 29, 2019
The beautiful thing with you is that you’ve taught your children to be humble despite the riches you have,you have a son who’s very humble and I see another Simon Gicharu in him.a great father!— Andy (@Bornbusy) 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
Sacking or suspension or compulsory leave broadens one’s mindset ; in your case it did and an idea came which gave birth to MKU which is an employer to many Kenyans!— Prof. Tom Nyamache,PhD (@tomnyamache1) April 29, 2019
interested in the outcome of of hawking milk did it get you a better life than in tsc or it stopped at bills and survival.— JEREMY 🇰🇪 🗺 🌍 (@J_OMWENGA) April 29, 2019
While many Kenyans were quick to receive the motivation, others didn’t bother with licking his behind and went straight to business pointing out obvious issues with his touching success story.
But now you are hawking degrees..None of your students comes out in the real world competitive…They are overlooked by employers in favour of @uonbi and @DiscoverJKUAT @KenyattaUni— Global Citizen (@global2321) April 29, 2019
Why is the community set to discourage learned elites from doing such things as hawking.Its everywhere in community.— Kirimi Kaibunga (@Kirimi_Kaibunga) April 29, 2019
You haven’t said why you were fired. Give both sides of the story— Visionary Patriot (@Stargazer_com) April 29, 2019
So bwana chair, will you mind telling us WHY you were fired?What reasons did @TSC_KE advance against you?— Ngungah (@ngungah) April 29, 2019
At least u had an old Chevy.. What about fellow Kenyans who have nothing, hata fuliza hawana? Where do they start.. @ least u had a point of start— Varkis (@alf_glock) April 29, 2019