| Feature | Details |
| Real Name | Patrick Riang’a |
| Moniker | Patrick Car Soko / The Greatest |
| Former Career | Watchman, Journalist (NMG) |
| Current Role | Manager at Car Soko |
| Award | Best Car Salesman of the Year 2025 |
| Philosophy | “Manage the downgrade to win the upgrade.” |
In the high-stakes world of Nairobi’s luxury car scene, one name stands out: Patrick Riang’a, popularly known as Patrick Car Soko. Recently awarded the “Best Car Salesman of the Year 2025,” his journey isn’t just about sleek high end cars; it’s a lesson in resilience.
In a viral interview on the Dr. King’ori Show-that has garnered over 50k views and counting, Patrick dropped the “raw” truth about quitting a top media job at Nation Media Group (NMG) without a plan and moving to a KSh 6,000 house to survive.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
The “Stupid” Resignation: Quitting NMG Without a Plan
Patrick was a staple at NMG, handling news and football commentary at the now defunct QFM and Nation FM. However, on April 28, 2015, he walked away from the corporate world with zero safety net.
“I can tell you confidently, I quit without a plan. I said I’m done, and I didn’t know what I was going to do next… I quit before the salary was out. It was with immediate effect,” the car salesman shared.
Looking back, he admits the move was reckless but necessary:
“I resigned stupidly. I think it was a stupid idea to resign when I look back… but anyway, it worked for me, ” he added.
The KSh 6,000 Tasia House
Most people who quit high-profile jobs try to “fake it” to maintain their social status. Patrick did the opposite. He was living in Highrise, paying KSh 35,000 in rent, but with a pregnant wife and no income, he chose the downgrade.
“……….Me, I moved from 35,000 to a 6,000 [rent] house in Tasia… If you cannot be able to manage a downgrade, for sure you will fail forever.”
Patrick argues that this humility is what prevents the “Nairobi depression” many former stars face:
“If you cannot accept that there are ups and downs in life, the likelihood of you going into depression is very high.”
Life as a Nairobi Watchman
Before the Land Cruiser J300s and Defenders, Patrick’s first job in the city was guarding gates.
“In 2011, I was a watchman in Nairobi… 2012, I was in media without proper education at that time. I joined school while already in media.”
The Breakthrough: Commissions Over Salaries
Patrick’s aggressive marketing on Facebook groups caught the attention of Ocean Cross Motors, where he was mentored by the legendary Alf Kairo. He quickly realized that one good car deal could outearn a whole year in the newsroom.
“When I joined Ocean… the commission which was far above my pay group at Nation Media Group, I was like, ‘I’ve worked for media for 3 years, what was I doing there?'”
Advice for Car Buyers
Now a manager at Car Soko (located near Village Market), Patrick deals with the “big boys” who buy high end cars. He shared some brutal truths for Kenyans looking to buy their first car:
“If I’m buying a car for people to say Patrick is doing good out here, I’ll go for a Prado… beyond 20 million, people don’t care which kind of model it is.”
He went on to add,
“Buying a car is easy, but maintaining is another issue… these German machines, they’re not easy to maintain sometime. A Volvo XC90 headlight is around 200,000.”
Patrick stated that business people prefer to buy cars on credit, “Most of these business people I’ve met, they don’t want to buy cash. They have the money, but they do bank financing. They pay like 2 million deposit and 8 million financed.”
The “Greatest” Secret: Trust
In an industry often associated with “conmen,” Patrick says his “celebrity” face is his greatest asset because people buy from those they recognize.
“People nowadays don’t just buy a car… they buy trust. They see this familiar face… they’re like, ‘This guy, we know him.’ We have established a system of trust, and trust is everything.”