Veteran educationist Simon Gicharu, who founded East and Central Africa’s largest private university, Mount Kenya University, took to Twitter to tell of his not-so popular dark days.
It might be hard to believe, that the 55-year-old, who is one of Kenya’s most affluent individuals, was once a milk hawker.
This notwithstanding, is after he got laid off by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
“Friends laughed at me, calling me a ‘failed graduate’,” the multi billionaire reminisced on his Monday Motivation Twitter post.
This, he said however, did not shake him, as he kept slowly but certainly building his own empire.
Dr Gicharu now owns the varsity with over 10 campuses in Kenya and Rwanda, besides being a holder of several coveted honours from Kenya and the world.
He is a 1st Class Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) holder- The highest award a civilian can get in Kenya. He was accorded the title by the President of the Republic of Kenya in 2013 in recognition of his contribution to the growth of tertiary education in Kenya.
He is further a recipient of the Ernst & Young Eastern Africa Entrepreneur of the Year 2014; a Superlative Trailblazer awardee from the Marketing Society of Kenya and received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from Gulu University, Uganda for his contribution to expansion of higher education in the East African region.