Oscar Kipchumba Sudi is the current Member of Parliament (MP) for Kapseret Constituency in Uasin Gishu. For a man who was born in abject poverty, his rise to leadership was mostly through seeking intricate connections and sheer hard work.
Politically, Sudi is known to be an ardent ally to Deputy President William Ruto whom he defends whenever he is attacked by real or perceived rivals. However, it is rather his sharp tongue that has always painted Sudi as a controversial man who doesn’t mince his words. Due to this, Sudi has attracted friends and foes in equal measures.
Age
The parliamentarian was born in 1981 meaning he is currently 40 years old.
Family
Sudi was born in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia county before their family migrated to Kesses in Uasin Gishu county. In a past interview, Sudi revealed he was born in a family of 5, and that he has 2 brothers.
Controversy Sorrounding Education
In an interview with Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o, Sudi revealed that he studied at Tulwop Ngetuny and Ngeria Primary Schools. However, through the interview, his education status proved a hot potato even as he revealed that at some point he dropped out of school to venture into charcoal and matatu businesses.
Currently, Sudi is finding himself in an awkward situation as it emerges that the school he alleged to have pursued his secondary education is non-existent.
According to Nabiki Kashu, an official from Kenya National Examination Council, Sudi’s KCSE certificate may be a forgery given his name did not appear at the council’s database for the 2006 examination.
Kashu also claimed that the school which Sudi claims to have attended called Highway High School was non-existent in 2006.
To further complicate matters, the school code ( 401006 ) appearing on Sudi’s KCSE certificate belongs to Parklands Secondary School and not Highway High School .
Moreover Sudi’s diploma certificate in Business Management from Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) appears to be forged.
According to John Mateshe who is a former head of exams at KIM, the serial number on Sudi’s certificate belonged to a different student.
“The number 36262 on the certificate presented to me belongs to a certificate issued to one Elkana Kimutai of admission number NRB/20870 of Diploma in Purchasing and supplies management which was issued on September 24, 2009,” the witness told the court.
And there was also a claim that Sudi’s admission number belonged to a different student.
“The admission number NRB/20879 belongs to Scholastica Achieng’ Odhiambo of Diploma in Management of NGOs. The student was registered in 2005. From our records, Sudi has never registered as a student of the institute,” Mateshe said.
Source of Wealth
When Sudi first vied for Kapseret Constituency seat in 2013, the electorate baptized him Eldoret’s Mike Sonko due to the fact that at only 32 he was rolling on high end machines. Many questions have been asked about his source of wealth.
According to Sudi, he began toiling at tender age of 14 where he would sell charcoal in Kesses, next to Moi University Main Campus. He was also helping his father in selling fruits and would wake up as early as 5 a.m to board a vehicle to Eldoret in order to acquire fresh fruits in town.
Matatu Business
Through the many trips, he made friends with matatu conductors and touts. He relished at an opportunity of being a stage tout at one point.
“One day, I realized that touts did not come to the stage on Sundays. I requested them to allow me manage it to which they accepted,” recalls Sudi.
After one year, Sudi later met a driver who had no conductor and he requested him to be one. This turned to be a life changing opportunity for Sudi who was then a teenager.
On the first day, the driver who owned the Peugeot 504 realized that Sudi was up to the task, honest and hard working. The parliamentarian worked as a conductor earning a paltry ksh 800 a month exclusive of daily allowances. He stayed away from alcohol and focused on savings.
“While my friends were drinking, I only took soda and saved my money. After 1 year, I had ksh 21k in my house,” revealed Sudi.
Venturing in other businesses
He then ventured into farming after his matatu boss offered him 7 acres of land which earned him ksh 129k on the first season.
Read Also: George Natembeya Biography, Age, Education, Career & Controversial utterances
Read Also: Olive Mugenda Biography, Age, Education, Career & Awards
As Sudi’s wealth was taking an upward trajectory, he met a friend called Stephen who introduced him to a risky yet paying fuel business. They partnered in selling fuel that was acquired through shady deals.
The second term MP used his money to purchase pool tables after he realized how profitable the venture was. This also boosted his wealth.
Due to his courage in looking for well connected persons, Sudi began buying and selling land as a broker. Additionally, he met a wealthy man who tasked him with delivering vehicles from the port of Mombasa to Moi University lecturers. Sudi made up to ksh 2k for every vehicle delivered.
As he began rubbing shoulders with powerful people including Cyrus Jirongo, Sudi decided to join politics. He supported former MPs Peris Simam and David Koros before he successfully vied for the 2013 elections on a URP ticket. Sudi defended his seat in 2017 by garnering more than 70% of the votes.
Oscar Sudi’s palatial house in Kapseret is estimated to be worth at least ksh 100 million.
Sudi’s Eldoret house [Photo|Courtesy
