Born and raised in Kitui County, Benjamin Muthui knew from a young age that he had to work hard to achieve his dreams and would stop at nothing to achieve them
Muthui excelled in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), scoring a B plain of 61 points, but could not proceed to university due to financial challenges
He went to college for a teaching course; he saved enough money to buy a motorbike and started working as a boda boda rider in the evenings while teaching during the day
Growing up, Benjamin Muthui, who was born and raised in Kitui County, knew that he had to work twice as much to achieve his dreams as he came from a not-so-well-off background.
After sitting for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and passing the tests with a B plain of 61 points, he decided to take the long route to success after financial constraints stood in the way of joining the university.
In an interview with TUKO.co.ke, Muthui recalled that his father could not fund his university studies despite his exemplary performance and the only option available was to train as a primary school teacher.
“Many people see boda boda riders and think they must have been academic failures. That is very inaccurate because I scored a B plain, but I could not proceed to university,” he said.
The man said he went for his teaching diploma and then moved to Nairobi, where he was employed as a primary school teacher.
However, the experience at the private school was unpleasant.
“By 2016, I had saved up some money from the teaching job and decided to buy a motorbike. So, I would go to class and teach during the day and go work as a boda boda rider in the evenings. However, I was being mistreated at the school I was working and I thus decided to quit to become a full-time boda rider,” he stated.
Balancing teaching and boda boda riding venture
Despite quitting his dreadful job, his dreams of being a teacher were still alive, and he enrolled for an education degree while still working as a rider.
After graduation, he was posted to a school in Machakos, but he continued with his boda boda riding venture as a side hustle.
“I teach during the weekdays here in Machakos and during weekends, I travel to Nairobi and work as a boda boda rider,” he said.
On a good month, Benjamin said his boda boda venture could fetch him KSh 20,000, which supplements his income to stay afloat.
“I also enrolled for my Masters Degree, and the income from the boda boda is quite helpful as I also have a family to provide for,” he said.
The man advised his colleagues in the boda boda sector not to give up their dreams of a white-collar job or business.
