Gachagua has been married to Pastor Dorcas Wanjiku Rigathi for 35 years, with whom they are blessed with two sons. The firstborn son, Kelvin Gachagua, is a software engineer, while the second born son is called Dr. Keith Ikinu, a medical doctor who also helps out with the running of the family businesses.

Interestingly, Dr. Keith, Gachagua’s second born son, was among the top students during the 2010 KCSE national examinations. He is an alumnus of the Alliance Boys High School.

According to the order of merit for the 2010 KCSE examinations, Keith scored a mean grade of A plain of 86.92 points and was ranked 17th nationally.

After his High School education, the 29-year-old joined the University of Nairobi (UoN) to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. He graduated in December 2019.

A post from his father read in part:

After 30 years, I went back to the University at the graduation square this morning to witness the graduation of my last born son, Keith Ikinu Rigathi, who was awarded Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. My wife and I were overwhelmed with excitement and indeed we are very proud parents.

“We thank God for his goodness in seeing Keith through a very difficult course that took him six years.”

“Having seen my last child through school, I will consider going back for a Master’s Degree in the same university sometime next year. I am a very proud father and I salute Doctor Ikinu Rigathi for the honour he has bestowed on his parents. As he starts working as a Doctor, I have reminded him that the profession is a calling and I am very happy he has joined me in service to mankind,” the post read in part.

Rigathu lauding his son Keith for his passion for his profession while working at Mbagathi District Hospital.

Currently, Ikinu is in charge of the family business. His father had to say this about his two songs:

“I’m Rigathi, family is the basic unit of society, and the nation, strong families make strong nations, I’m the head of a family and it’s my pleasure and privilege to introduce my wife Dorcas, and my firstborn son Kelvin Gachagua a software engineer and my second born son, Keith Ikinu Rigathi, medical doctor, who helps me to run the family business,” he said.

His interest for prop material building began at a young age when he watched and compared Kenyan films to international ones.

Here is his story as told by WoK.

Background

As a child, he learned from his mechanic father about metal work and slowly begun to build his craft through what he calls pure interest and God-given talent. As a child, he also made small robots and toys.

Paul Kihuha did not study past primary school. He says that after primary school, he worked extensively with his father and managed to carve out a career path in a similar field.

Early career

At the beginning of his career, he majored in woodwork, furniture building and other metal work at his small workshop.

Later on, he expanded to the building of video production equipment. He pitched his first props to small shops in River road Nairobi in 2014 with hope to build a market for his products.

At the beginning, he admits that it was hard to penetrate the market, as people were still not well versed with the products he was making. It is for this reason that he began to produce his short films to demonstrate the use of his tools in 2013.

Prop making

At his workshop, Paul has displayed several sets for films, for example hospitals, garage, gym, etc. This he does using different locally sourced materials like wood and metal.

He uses these materials to make props for use by actors and directors in the film and production industry.

Taking into account that there is no prop house in Kenya, Paul has a high demand for his products. On a good day, he can make Ksh. 100,000 from orders by repeat and new clients.

Also Read: Steve Mbogo: How City Businessman Spent Ksh40 Million in One Weekend

Paul has been able to sell his products to clients in foreign countries including South Sudan, South Africa, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Throughout his career, he has trained about 48 youth on prop-making. He adds that he will continue to train more and enable them to add on their skills.

He insists that his products are more affordable and readily available for the local market. His appeal to the local film industry id to embrace local manufacturers and locally made products.

Business challenges

When asked about his greatest challenge in his venture, Paul cited the difficulty in acquiring licensing to make his props and establish a prop house.

He has mentioned that obtaining a license for his business has been a challenge, especially because people still do not grasp the concept of making props.

Paul Kihuha however insists that he will keep going and will not give up in his pursuit.

Prop making is an art that is accepted worldwide, with a huge market in the film industry. With the right industrial support, Kahuha is optimistic that his business will flourish over time.

His advice for the youth who want to take a similar career path is to keep going and not give up.

Here are ten male celebrities in Kenya rocking this timeless hairstyle as compiled by WoK.

Nyashinski

This list definitely has to be started by hiphop artist Nyashinski. The musician has had his locks since the days of Tuendelee ama Tusiendelee.

Alphonce Kioko (Maima)

Maima is a popular Kamba benga musician, with dozens of hits under his belt. He always wears down his dreadlocks and styles them differently during his outings.

Chris Kaiga

The Hapo Tu and I want hit-maker has very long dreadlocks reaching his lower back. The musician always keeps them clean and prefers to let his hair down.

Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel is a top Kenyan Gospel musician, songwriter and multi-talented instrumentalist. He plays both the guitar and piano.

Also Read: Guardian Angel Biography, Age, Family, Career, Songs, and Achievements

Frankie Just Gym It

Gym instructor, social media influencer, and fitness coach Frankie just gym it also wears a crown of dreadlocks on his head, complementing his well-built physique.

Willis Raburu

Willis made headlines when he quit news anchoring to host a late night entertainment show on television. Speaking at a local radio interview, Willis had this to say on his new hairstyle, “Dreadlocks was something I always wanted to have and also because of my love for Reggae music, I had to them put on. The money is mine, the hair is also my fashion.”

DJ Kalonje

DJ Kalonje is well known for his numerous banging music mixes played in matatus and clubs across the country, including street locked mixes.

J Blessing

Music video director J Blessing has had his dreadlocks for a long time now, something that has become part of his identity.

Juliani

The witty lyricist that is Juliani always excites his fans during performances where he shakes his dreadlocks in a charismatic way to show his craft.

Edgar Obare

The self proclaimed tea master has a clean dreadlocks look, complementing his face.

Having survived the rough life of being an IDP (Internally Displaced Person) to the cruel life of being a streetchild, 2mbili has managed to create a name for himself. Now, he has put together his own comedy YouTube channel, 2mbili TV, where he often uploads highly engaging videos.

WoK recently had a chat with 2mbili about his comedy journey and how he came to be in a position to headline his own show-the hugely popular Celeb Ride. Read on to find out more.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is 2mbili. I am a stand-up comedian, a parent, a content creator and a TV and radio host.

Most of us got to hear about you during the pandemic. How was that experience for you?

The pandemic was kind of a blessing in disguise for me. I used to do virtual show and stand-up shows and we used to receive tips from our audience. I also did a bit of TV and radio hosting as well. The pandemic opened a lot of doors for me to expand my creativity.

I was also able to open my YouTube channel that is currently doing very well. I am very grateful for the traction we have gained since we started the show. I began it as a trial at first, but I am grateful that the reception has been good.

Before my success in this field, I was dejected and very poor. Despite scoring an A- in my KCSE, I ended up doing odd jobs, becoming a watchman and even living as a streetkid. I am most grateful that despite all this I was able to find my way and create a meaningful life for myself and my family.

You seem to have a very good relationship with ex-comedian Jalang’o. Tell us about that.

My relationship with Jalang’o is a very good one; I take him as an elder brother. I remember vowing to sell of my kidneys to help fund his campaign.

When I was poor, I used to look for him for assistance when he was working at Milele FM and he always came through for him. For that I am very grateful.

How has the journey been for you as a comedian in Kenya?

It has not been easy, especially in the beginning when we used to rely on other people’s shows to make ends meet. But now I think the industry has completely changed. Now almost every comedian, if not all, has a YouTube channel where they put out their content. This has helped all of us to create a community around our content because I think all of us have a unique style of comedy delivery.

Stand-up comedy however is losing its grip. There are no longer as much stand-up comedy events in the country and a number of comedians have focused on other forms of comedy like acting.

What is your advice for young people trying to make it?

First of all, I live to survive. I take care of my needs and the needs of my family with what I have at the moment. I would advice young people to not succumb to societal pressure or online pressure from their peers who are presumed to make alot of  money Personally, I pay rent for four households. I cannot start to compare myself with people just to show off online. My advice is live with what you have as you work to where you want to be.

Well, here’s an insight to how this works. While many people in Kenya are familiar with Airbnbs for staycations and short and long vacations, many are not aware of the booming dog boarding business in Kenya. Dog Airbnbs are accommodation facilities that host, feed, walk and groom your dogs when you are not around.

In Kenya, a number of such facilities have emerged, offering a much-needed service to dog parents across the country.

In 2021, 27-year-old Eddy Ng’ang’a identified a market gap for pet boarding facilities in Kenya, and made the decision to turn his love for dogs into a business. He took a leap of faith and tried out a business which he says has grown in leaps and bounds, in about one year since its inception.

In this article, Eddy speaks to WOK about his love for dogs, his decision to start a dog accommodation business, and what it takes to thrive in this venture.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Eddy Ngang’a. I am twenty seven years old and an alumnus of the University of Nairobi. I am also a dog lover and the proprietor of Alpha Kennels Doggy Airbnb, a facility that offers hosting, grooming and other services for dogs. We are located at Zambezi, in Kikuyu area.

What was your first interaction with a dog?

My first interaction with a dog was about twenty years ago when I was in lower primary school. I was walking to school with my brother, when we bumped into a stray dog that I absolutely liked. We took the dog home, fed him and basically adopted him. That is when I really grew a love and appreciation for dogs.

Fast forward to about a year and a half ago, a friend of mine gave me the job of marketing for the sale of her dog. I was able to get a few inquiries for the purchase of the dog, but I later decided to purchase the dog for myself.

When did you get the idea of starting a dog boarding business?

After getting the dog, I was naturally compelled to construct a kennel for him. Initially, the fundi was supposed to construct one kennel, but I changed my mind and we ended up having six, hoping that I would get playmates for my dog. That was around July last year.

In November the same year, while I was feeding my dog, I just thought to myself how I could host dogs for people who were either travelling or had commitments and could not take care of their dogs. That is when the idea was born and I decided to run with it.

To kick off the trial for the business, I took a few photos with my dog and posted on social media, telling people that we offer dog hosting fees.  At the time we were charging Ksh 500 a day for hosting a dog at our kennels.

However, a few weeks later I decided to review the pricing after studying the market, bringing the prices down to Ksh 200 and Ksh 400 for small and big dogs respectively. This decision really propelled the business to success and stability. I was able to get many calls and enquiries. By December that year, we had established ourselves as a solid business.

A month later I quit my job in marketing to focus on the business fully.

Do you offer other services apart from accommodation?

Other than accommodation, we sought ways for value addition. Now we have grooming, dog-walking, vaccination and even dog-training services for dogs. We have been able to establish ourselves as the one-stop-shop for everything dog-related.

How big is your team?

At the beginning, I was the only employee. Currently, we are a team of five people, comprising of a two veterinarians and two support staff and myself.

How much do you charge for services offered at your facility?

As I mentioned earlier, we charge Ksh 200 and Ksh 400 hosting fees for small and big dogs a day. Grooming is Ksh 1,500. dog walking is Ksh 200 for a distance range of 5-10 km, vaccination is Ksh 1,500 per shot and obedience training for Ksh 5,000 for a period of thirty days. We also have insurance services (optional) for people who want to insure their dogs.

What are some of the challenges you face in your line of work?

Somme dogs are very aggressive, so there is the risk of getting hurt or attacked by a dog, especially one that we are not very familiar with.

Another challenge is the risk for sickness and infection. However, we address this by asking for the dog health history and declining to accommodate any dogs that are not vaccinated.

What do you hope to achieve in the near future?

In the near future, about a year or so from now, we hope to extend our accommodation capacity from thirty kennels to about sixty, which will be able to host up to a hundred dogs at a go.

We also plan to open a branch in Nakuru City.

How can potential clients reach you?

Clients can check out our social media handles or reach me via my phone number 0729 039995.

Finding a good school to train and gain a pilot license is something that is paramount for everyone who desires to be a pilot. In this article, WOK kicks off the weekly aviation series with Captain Waweru Mwangi, formerly of the Kenya Airways.

With over thirty years experience in aviation as a pilot, Captain Mwangi will discuss the most important factors you need to consider before choosing an aviation school in Kenya. He is also going to touch on aviation training in South Africa, and how it compares to that in Kenya.

How can you compare aviation training during your time and currently?

When it comes to aviation training in Kenya, the experience has improved, compared to how it was years ago when I was doing training. There are more training schools, more facilities, more trainers and more infrastructure. Although we have come a long way, we still have areas to improve on.

I studied abroad, at the Boliver School of Auronautics in Tennessee, USA. After completing my studies in 1992 I came back to Kenya and sat a few examinations to secure a local license.

Area of interest

One thing to consider is your area of interest, coupled with passion. A person interested in pursuing aviation should really do research and understand what they are interested in.

We have the options of flying airlines, charter planes, air force, forest service, police service and others like flying helicopters. Once you understand the different areas of aviation, you will be able to make an informed decision.

Family

Time with family is another factor to consider. Aviation takes a lot of time away from your life and family. People who want to venture into this profession need to consider the fact that they will be away for long periods of time. This will affect their relationships and how they interact with other people.

As we speak, the divorce rate in the aviation industry is very high, because very few people are able to maintain relationships with partners who are rarely physically present.

Cost

Another factor to consider when choosing an aviation training school is the issue of finances. In Kenya, we do not have student loans available for aviation training in the country, hindering the uptake of this course.

We can go around this issue by dissemination information around aviation, so that potential aviators know exactly what they are getting into. The government can alleviate this situation by offering scholarships and financial loan programs for students seeking to venture into aviation.

Comparatively, aviation pays well, so paying back the loans would not be a difficult endeavor for the pilots when they start working.

How much does it cost to train as a pilot in Kenya?

The cost of training in Kenya is about Ksh6 million for a period of two to three years, to get a CPL (Commercial Pilot License).

It is also important to note that the training is standard for all pilots, despite the type of aircraft they are going to operate.

How can you compare training in Kenya and South Africa?

To a big extent, training in South Africa is better because the facilities are more developed and sophisticated. In South Africa, the government is keen on supporting students pursuing aviation by implementing friendly policies that enable these aviation schools to thrive. Training here is an option, but I would say that the training in South Africa is a bit better.

The cost for training in South Africa is more or less the same as training here in Kenya.

Unfortunately, other than South Africa, other African countries are struggling to maintain their aviation schools. This is partly because their governments are not creating a favorable environment for them to thrive. Whenever they are considering financial support for institutions, rarely do they include these aviation training facilities.

In Kenya, how many training institutions do we have?

We have a number of training centres that are putting in effort, but they really need government support in order to thrive.

From running a successful company to working towards being an industry leader, Jared is quickly becoming ‘the man to watch’ in the region’s tech space.

In this article, WOK spoke to Jared about his stellar career, his recent awards and his plan for the future.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do

I am Jared Mwanduka, 29 years of age, born and bred in Kenya from Kitui county. Currently I am the CEO & Founder of Learnsoft Beliotech Solutions. An IT company based in Nairobi Kenya. We deal in software development.  After my primary school, I attended one the best performing schools in the county – St. Charles Lwanga School in 2008 and completed in 2011 with a mean score of A-.

I developed interest in Information Technology field and thus I decided to pursue any IT related field. In my choices, I was lucky to be selected to join Kenyatta University in 2012 to pursue bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

The early days of campus life were tough with coding/programming and it looked like things were not working. The course being something I was passionate about; I gave it my all and I was able to gain good skills in programming. Four years later (2016) I graduated with second class (Upper division) in the same course. I’m currently pursuing my masters in Data Science and Business Analytics from The University of Texas at Austin.

I am a software engineer with passion in developing solutions that bring a lasting solutions to the existing needs of the society. This I do with passion!

What’s your career background?

Before my graduation, I had already developed a solution for schools where I aimed at automating the processes in the Kenyan school. My first target was the high schools since I felt primary schools might not be a good starting point. I lacked the market to sell the product and again, I didn’t think it could be easily purchased since I had not tested it in a real environment.

I was glad to be introduced by one of my friends who started teaching in one of the schools in Mwingi – Kitui County who really needed a system. That was my first sale. It was big challenge but we managed to refine the system bit by bit until it worked for them.  With excitement, I posted some of the screenshots on my social medial platform and boom, I got the second client.

Alongside the freelancing business then, I sought other opportunities and worked with System Partners Limited as software engineer in 2017 for a year. In 2018, I was engaged by Coseke (K) Limited as a software engineer in 2018. My career growth in the skills and personality has been a consistent one, opening more opportunities and recognition. In Coseke from just a junior Software Engineer, to Senior Engineer and now a technical manager the growth curve just goes up. At this point, I am proud of whom I have become.

I formed Learnsoft Beliotech Solutions in 2018 with the aim of growing my space and selling more, because start-ups face many challenges if no other source of income is guaranteed. Ever then we have grown from one employee to now with 22 employee – incorporating techies, business and marketers all working together to meet the needs of the society.

When did you start your company and what inspired you to start it?

The inspiration to start Learnsoft Beliotech Solutions was out the need to attend to the immediate needs of the schools. I also viewed it was an opportunity for me start testing on how my coding skills would work in an actual environment.

I got into ICT business by a series of trials and trials. Although I was sure I had the skills to build systems which solve a real problem in the society, getting to convince people to buy the solution was not easy. Yes, my background was rich with knowledge and understanding of the needs but I needed to work extra hard to be recognized in the competitive market.

The passion and the purpose were clear because I chose ICT and ICT seemed to choose me, the missing thing was the client. When my friend at who worked as BOM teacher then asked me to present my system to the school management I convinced the team and they chose to be the ‘guinea pig’. I gave the best solution to them, making them happy.

What are your main products and services?

Software development is the core service we offer, with 12 products in the market, the Learnsoft SchoolERP for primary and secondary schools and the E-SaccoERP for saccos take the lead in the best-selling products.

Among them we also have Learnsoft Payroll Master for managing payrolls, Toppos Point of Sale system, Farm Management System, Biometric Fingerprint system, Learnsoft HMIS for Hospital management. We also deal in E-Commerce website designs, mobile app development, graphics designs, software consultancy and training.

How do you deal with competition?

In the IT sector, technology is changing every minute and our win has been through ensuring we match to the changes in the technology and customer needs. We recently upgraded our school ERP to not only handle the 8-4-4 curriculum to handling the CBC curriculum that helped us to get more primary schools as clients. Our solutions have very beautiful and user-friendly interfaces which make the users create a special bond with them once they start using.

Our support is also top-notch as we noted that if the client is not support within reasonable timeframe from the moment a support ticket is raised, they get frustrated. We have replaced other vendors by ensuring this factor is prioritized and deploying more support engineers to give remote connection, physical and call support.

What’s your biggest selling point/what sets you apart from other companies?

We stand out of the crowd in the way we give our clients and prospects a first priority. Ignoring a call from a client and failure to respond in time is taken seriously by our head of support team. We have well trained engineers and system analysts who ensure the needs of the client are well understood so we develop a solution that fully fits their need.

Our solution is also one package – a one-stop-shop where it has been integrated with every module a client may need. Additionally, all our products are designed to give a sense of simplicity and friendliness of function and interface. Lastly, our marketing team is efficient in ensuring every opportunity is grabbed and executed.

Other than competition, what are the other challenges you have faced in your career?

With the COVID-19 pandemic, things were uneasy and we struggled to keep employees on check. Business went down due to the unforeseen uncertainty. We closed our physical office due to unpredictable revenue. However, we strategized and came out stronger to take advantage of the situation by ensuring we could meet virtually and execute business like the normal way.

Change in the education curriculum from 8-4-4 to CBC affected our school clients and thus we had to redesign the system to fit the change, which had time and financial implications.

You recently bagged an award recognizing talent in your industry. Tell us a bit about that.

This year has been quite a great milestone. It saw me win The Connected Award from Techtrend Africa, an award that recognizes the top impact makers in the tech sector. The Global Hero recognition was a gold winners’ category under the Product Designer.

The second award was through the Town and County Planners Association of Kenya (TCPAK) where Learnsoft Beliotech Solutions was awarded certificate of recognition because of providing the Learnsoft SchoolERP system that has transformed and shaped the operations and processes in the primary and secondary schools in Kenya.

What would you describe as the highlight of your career?

The most spectacular highlight is the awards I have received in a row. They have come to convince me that I’m walking the right path in career and there is a community I’m influencing positively.

I has motivated me to do even more to ensure I can discover and be ready to use technology to solve the needs of the society. I has taught me that I cannot give up because there are many people looking upon me.

What’s next for Jared Mwanduka?

I’m aiming for greater heights that would ensure I reach a larger audience through software solutions. I would want to create opportunities to young people by offering intermediate skills to them as they transition to the market.

In my time, I almost missed my graduation because I lacked somewhere to engage in my industrial attachment that was a mandatory requirement for graduation. I wouldn’t allow that to happen to any young person in my knowledge.

I would want to offer them an opportunity to learn and gain skills needed in the market. Additionally, we also want to grow and invade not only the eastern Africa region, but also the entire Africa and the world through provision of top-notch software solutions to the clients.

For Phanice Kwamboka, a side hustle was a necessity, to add to her income as an employee at a flower farm. She decided to start her company, Malvo Cleaning Services, a corporate office and home cleaning business.

Here is her story as told by WoK.

Staring capital

Phanice started her business in September 2019 with Ksh10,000 as capital. After running the business for a couple of months, she decided to go all in and quit her job.

Like every other small company, the journey to being a profit-making business was not easy. Phanice struggled to get clients, and it took about two years for the business to be self-sustaining.

“The major challenge was convincing potential clients about my services and gaining their trust to work in their offices and households,” she said in an interview with Nation.

“Pricing my services correctly was also an issue. At one point, I undercharged a client so much that we had to pay my workers from my own pocket. I had to go back to the drawing board and figure out my rates. I learnt that in a bid to appease a client, it can be easy to burn your fingers with the wrong pricing,” she added.

Steady growth

Speaking about what led to the growth of her company, Phanice cited referrals as the biggest factor.

“Referrals are very critical when running your own business. They are derived from absolute customer satisfaction. Sometime back I served a client who was so satisfied with my work that she referred a prominent private hospital to my services. This was one of my biggest contracts and it taught me why putting your customer first and ensuring you give them the best services from the get-go is important,” she explained.

Managing finances

Giving her two cents on money management, Phanice noted that mobile money has been a plus for her business, adding that she has an official till number and a mobile banking app.

“I have interlinked these modes of payment such that I am able to make deposits from my till account straight to my business account without visiting a physical bank branch. I have also set aside amounts in mobile pouches for investment, my own salary, and my personal budget without dipping into my actual business cash flow,” she said.

Like every entrepreneur, investing back into the business is paramount. Phanice disclosed that she makes a point to inject money back into the business after paying her employees and herself.

Entrepreneurship over employment

Making the decision to be an entrepreneur was a big risk for Phanice, since success of the business was not guaranteed. However, she prefers entrepreneurship to employment, explaining that the former is more fulfilling.

“I find entrepreneurship to be more fulfilling than employment. As a mother, it has allowed me to juggle running my business and parenthood quite efficiently. In contrast to my days as an employee, I can say that the unpredictability of a business is not only thrilling but challenging. There’s a unique satisfaction that comes from the rewards of the sweat invested,” she said.

Career lessons

Commenting on the lessons she has learned along the way, Phanice noted that one of the biggest lesson is to always be bold and take a step even when you are not sure about the outcome.

“From the successes and shortcomings, I have found myself moving forward, improving myself, my outlook in life, and my financial position. Money alone will never be enough. You need other components of life and this only comes by being bold and charting new paths and territories,” she said.

In Kenya, a number of stylists, including 24-year-old Melina Gold, have made a name for themselves and their brands by dressing and styling their clients, who are either celebrities, politicians and other influential people.

Her job as a stylist involves selecting and coordinating outfits and accessories to come up with a complete look that best complements the client body and image. According to Melina, there is a big difference between style and fashion, noting that fashion is what you buy but style is what you do with the attires.

Styling as a talent

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation, Melina stated that styling is not something that is taught in school. It is a natural ability and gift that is perfected with a lot of practice and creativity.

Knowing how to work well with colour, fabrics, moods and personality. This makes it open for anyone with this gift to be a stylist.

Styling as a career

Needless to say, stylists make a lot of money from their craft. “…there is good money in this field. You just need to be smart about it and I am a testimony to that. My brand is a luxury brand so I can attest the money is good based on how you position yourself,” she said.

Unfortunately, many people are yet to grasp the importance of professional styling, and still prefer copying other people’s sense of style. According to Melina, we still have a long way to go.

Melina has an impressive track record, having dressed a number of celebrities, both local and international. In Kenya, she dresses Kenyan rapper Noti Flow, comedian Eric Omondi, and many others. Outside Kenya, she has had the pleasure of styling Nigerian star Adenkule Gold.

For celebrities, good styling is a crucial part of their career. A stylist helps create the artist’s image and keeps it consistent, in line with the celebrity’s brand.

However, she decries the poor choice of dressing by most Kenyan celebrities.

“Here in Kenya, there is so much fakeness. You will find celebrities who don’t know how to dress, others wear fake designers, while some when busted act like they didn’t know. They dress worse than their fans and expect to be adored and supported. Is that not a joke?” she exclaims.

Career highlight

Speaking on the highlight of her career, Ms. Gold noted that dressing Adenkule Gold was the peak of her career, adding that the Nigerian singer understands the value of a good stylist.

“My major highstyling was when I dressed Adekunle Gold, he really understands the value of a stylist. I also really enjoy working with Erick Omondi, despite our now and then altercations, he knows how to invest in his image which keeps him trending often,” she adds.

Westlands land saga

The Siuma Auctioneers proprietor was summoned by the DCI to aid in the investigations of a disputed one-acre prime parcel of land.

Avani Shah, wife to Niraj Shah, told police that Barasa showed her a document purporting that a private company named Lariak Properties, had bought the land from Metro pharmaceuticals in 2010.

The Shah’s, however, maintain that they are the legal occupants of the home, since their lease to the land is valid and expires in 2048. They further said that they are in possession of a court order dated November 1st, 2022, which directs that the plaintiff be restrained from trespassing or interfering with the couple’s possession of the land.

The property, which is valued at about Ksh 80 million was demolished by a mob deployed by the private developer. For over 40 years, the Shah’s have called the parcel of land their home.

“I used to call this a home until Friday Morning and today I can’t even call it a home it’s in shambles. It’s questionable because my father had renewed this lease in 1998 and it is valid for 50 years so it is going to expire in 2048 and they claim they bought the land in 2010 so we are questioning; bought from who? How did they do it and how did they transfer the land to themselves?” Niraj said, speaking to journalists.

Police investigation

Shortly after the arrest of Barasa, Police asked the court to allow them to hold him for fourteen days as they investigate the incident.

The mystery that detectives want to solve is the person who contracted Barasa to demolish the house, as they are speculating that there is a bigger force behind the demolition. The investigators further revealed that whereas Barasa had told them he was contracted by a faceless owner of the land, he had refused to divulge his identity.

The Shahs were directed by police to continue living in the property, even though the structure was demolished by hired goons.

Barasa, who refused to disclose his master, told police he had been given an order to evict the family.

He added after the eviction, he handed over the structure to the owner who continued with the eviction of the occupants from the one acre land.

“Mine was to implement the court order and I handed the house to the owner,” he said.

Freed on bail

After a court hearing on Thursday 11th November, 2022, Barasa was released on a cash bail of Ksh 200,000 on condition that he should be reporting to the investigating officers whenever he is summoned to do so.

High-Profile evictions

In 2020, Barasa’s company was contracted to evict former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Personal Assistant, Jomo Gecaga, from an apartment at Riverside estate in Nairobi.

Gecaga’s eviction notice from the high-end apartment in Nairobi’s Riverside estate came after falling out with former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero over rent.

Siuma auctioneers is widely known for evicting and auctioneering properties in major cities after receiving court orders.

Political interest

Barasa has previously shown and acted on his interest in politics. Earlier this year, he declared his interest to run for the position of Governor in Bungoma County. Drumming up support for himself across the county, he claimed that he is the only person in Bungoma county who has executed projects that are the ‘responsibility of the government’.

He also claimed to have carried out a lot of projects like repairing roads, paying school fees, building hospitals.