In summary
-Festo Muriuki rose like a phoenix from the ashes in pursuit of better opportunities.
-He once worked as a Huduma Centre attendant in Lamu before a massive salary cut forced him to look for further opportunities.
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Festo Muriuki Njoroge currently wears a uniform of honour as a United States Navy Sailor. He is a man who credits his success to being prayerful, resilient, disciplined and committed.
He studied education at Laikipia University before dumping the chalkboard for the gun.
Here is his story as told by WoK:
Humble Beginnings
Njoroge comes from Murang’a County and attended school at Mariira Primary school before joining Kianyaga High School in Kirinyaga. He scored a B+ and was placed at Egerton University for a Bachelor of Arts (History). However, this programme wasn’t particularly appealing to him.
This made him do an inter-faculty transfer to study education at Laikipia University.
“I wasn’t interested in pursuing the said course and I did an inter-faculty transfer and secured admission to pursue Bachelor of Education (Arts-Kiswahili/History) degree at Laikipia Campus (currently, Laikipia University),” he tells WoK.
He then completed his undergraduate in 2013 after undertaking teaching practice at Mûthua-inî Girls Sec School in Tetu, Nyeri.
Working as a teacher and joining Kenya Police
After graduation he secured a teaching position as a B.O.M teacher at Kamukabi Sec Sch in kigumo and then moved to Kigumo Bendera High school, still as a B.O.M teacher.
While still at Kigumo Bendera in July 2014, he decided to participate in a police recruitment exercise. He was able to secure a docket number to join Kiganjo Police Training College as a graduate/cadet. A day after the recruitment exercise, he participated in a TSC interview and became position one in that exercise. He now had two options, but he decided to join the law enforcement career.
Cancellation of recruitment
Sadly, after a few weeks, there was public outcry regarding the then concluded recruitment exercise. There were allegations of rampant corruption during the exercise, prompting then Chairperson of the National Police Service Commission, Johnstone Kavuludi to nullify the entire process. The heartbreaking move meant Njoroge had lost a lucrative deal, but all was not lost.
In April 2015 after the terrorist attack at Garissa University, former President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered for a repeat of the recruitment exercise. The determined Njoroge took another shot.
“I decided to try my luck again, and luckily, I managed to secured the chance again. I reported to the National Police Training College on 26th April 2015 and graduated on 12th Feb 2016. I was absorbed into the Directorate of Criminal Investigations,” he says.
Long journey to Lamu
He underwent a DCI induction course at the DCI Training School in South C and thereafter was posted to DCI Lamu, Mpeketoni Police Station in April 2016.
He recalls the exhausting, long journey to Lamu, that was full of tension, and the roads were in dire condition. Nevertheless, the most important thing is that he arrived and began a new role.
“The journey to Lamu was very long, exhausting and full of fear. Mpeketoni had experienced attacks in May 2015 and tension was very high in that area. The road from Minjila junction to Witu and past the Boni Forest was so scaring. Additionally, it was in bad shape,full of potholes and it all looked like there was imminent attacks. You could feel it in the air,” he says.
He arrived safely and began a new phase of life. In September 2016, he was attached to Lamu Huduma Centre where his main duty was to assist citizens in applying for the certificate of good conduct. He worked there upto May 2021 when he was transferred to Migori Huduma Centre. Three months later, he moved to Murang’a Huduma Centre.
Salary slash
All was well until Njoroge faced an abrupt salary cut. Initially, the salaries of graduates was the same as that of an inspector of police despite not going for the inspectorate course. The dent to his paycheck was not only heart-wrenching but it also made him plan on resigning.
“I worked for 13 months earning less than ksh 10k until I couldn’t take it anymore. On 21st December 2022, I submitted my resignation letter and it was approved in mid January, 2023,” he told this publication.
Working as a teacher
In January 2023, TSC announced vacancies for permanent and pensionable terms and internship for JSS teachers. Njoroge applied and he was yet again fortune’s favourite.
“I secured a PnP position at Mathare 4A Primary school in Kasarani Sub-County as a JSS Teacher.”
He worked until January 2024 when he felt stagnant and resorted to look for improved prospects in Dubai.
“I needed a new challenge. I decided to resign and went abroad for greener pastures,” he says.
While working in Dubai, he decided to check on his DV Lottery results and was shocked and elated to find out that he was successful, and was due for further processes.
“On 4th May 2024, I was resting in a hotel in Dubai when I decided to check on my DV Lottery Results – I had applied for DV Lottery on 31st Oct 2023 and I got a shock of the year. I had been selected for further processing. I was very excited that I found myself celebrating wildly in that hotel,” he says.
He traveled back to Kenya in June 2024 and had expected to get his second notification letter (2NL) by the end of the year. However, that was not to be and the long wait weighed heavily on his mind.
But one day while seated in a kibanda, taking a meal of githeri, he received an email notification and that was it!
“I got stressed. There were no 2NLs until July 2025. I had almost given up. I was in at a kibanda in Makongeni, Thika when I received an email notification. It was my 2NL.”
“The long wait was now over. I didn’t even finish my githeri. My celebration attracted the attention of other clients. I called my family, parents and siblings and broke the news to them,” he reveals.
Njoroge then booked his medicals at IOM Gigiri and completed everything by early August, 2025. It was a seamless process for him as he passed the medicals.
His interview was scheduled for 22nd September 2025. He kept waiting and praying that he could be successful.
“I prayed that God may grant me that opportunity to go to the United States of America. I reminded my family, parents and siblings to pray for me too,” he says.
Two days prior to the interview, he ensured everything was set – money, passport and other documents.
The final day came, and he woke up at 3 am and called an Uber. He arrived at the gate of the embassy some minutes past 4 am.
The gates were opened at around 6 am and after the normal security checks, he was ushered in. He was the 3rd person to be interviewed and after a few questions, he emerged successful.
“I heard the best statement ever – Festo, I am going to approve your visa…enjoy your stay in the United States of America ” he recalls.
His prayers had been answered. Njoroge was elated and shed tears of joy. Immediately after exiting the gate, he called his family to break the good news.
“I called my parents and siblings and broke the good news to them. They were all patiently waiting for my call,” he says.
The excitement left his legs feeling weak and was trembling. He then boarded a matatu and headed to CBD where he took another matatu back home.
A few days later, he got an email telling him to go and collect the passport. The visa had been stamped. He then did some shopping as he awaited booking of a flight to Seattle,Washington where his host lived.
“My host booked for me Emirates Airlines and I left Kenya on 9th Oct and arrived in Seattle/SeaTac international airport on 10th Oct 2025,” he says.
He was picked up and after 2 days, he was taken to apply for the Washington State ID. The host also organised for a caregiving course for him.
“After a week, he applied for me a 2-week caregiving course and I started working as a caregiver immediately after the course. He also guided me on opening bank account and registering for driving classes,” he disclosed.
Joining the military
After receiving his Green card in November 2025, he decided to join the United States military. He contacted a kenyan U.S Navy Recruiter, Moses Ngotho, who guided him on the whole process.
“I completed the process on 30th January 2026 and shipped for the United States Navy Bootcamp on 25th February 2026. I graduated on 21st May 2026 and I am now a United States Navy Sailor,” he says.
Njoroge is grateful to God, Family and Friends for their prayers,moral and financial support throughout this journey.
“Be prayerful, resilient, committed and disciplined. You will go far. Never give up.”