List of 6 Powerful, Rich Kenyans Who Started Out as Teachers

• Several Kenyans started their careers as teachers and grew to become household names, some amassing wealth from the profession
• For instance, the late former president Mwai Kibaki started his career in the classroom, teaching at Makerere University
• Also, renowned educationist Simon Gicharu, the founder of Mount Kenya University, amassed his fortunes from the profession

Today, Wednesday, October 5, the world is commemorating the International Teachers Day.

On this day, teachers are celebrated, thanked and honored for their contribution to their students.

With that in mind, in Kenya, some individuals started their careers as teachers and grew to become household names, some amassing fortunes from the profession.

TUKO.co.ke has sampled some of the Kenyans who started their careers in the classroom before elevating to become famous, powerful and rich members of the society.

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They include:

1. Daniel Moi

Kenya’s second president, the late Daniel arap Moi, started off as a teacher before venturing into politics.

After the colonial government reportedly denied him a chance to enrol at Alliance High School, Moi joined Tambach Teachers Training College.

The former head of state then attended Kagumo Teacher’s College. He later started teaching at Tambach Teacher’s Training College before becoming the headmaster of a school in the then Keiyo District.

Moi served in the profession from 1946 to 1955 before venturing into politics, which saw him elected president between 1978 to 2002.

The Moi family is considered one of the wealthiest in Kenya.

2. Mwai Kibaki

The late Mwai Kibaki, who served as Kenya’s third president between 2002 and 2013, also started his career in the classroom.

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After missing a chance to join the army, Kibaki attended Makerere University in Uganda, where he studied economics, history, and political science.

He graduated with a First Class honours degree in Economics and got a scholarship where he travelled to the London School of Economics.

In 1958, he went back to Makerere, where he taught as an assistant lecturer in the economics department.

In 1960, he left academia and returned to Kenya for active politics. He was elected KANU executive officer.

3. Simon Gicharu

Renowned educationist Simon Gicharu, the founder of Mount Kenya University, amassed his fortunes from the profession.

After graduating from Kenyatta University with a Bachelor of Education Science degree, he started teaching Mathematics at various secondary schools in Kenya.

He later became a lecturer at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and at the Thika Technical Training Institute.

Due to his education passion, he authored a book, Applied Mathematics for Craft Engineering.

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4. Daniel Gachukia

Riara Group of Schools founder Daniel Gachukia started his hustle in the teaching profession.

After graduating from Makerere University in Uganda, Gachukia started teaching at Namilyango High School in the President Yoweri Museveli led country.

He later returned to Kenya and taught at Thika High School before moving to Kagumo High School.

Together with his wife Eddah, they started building Riara Group of Schools which have, over the years, evolved to become one of Kenya’s prestigious learning institutions.

5. Peter Orero

Kibra Member of Parliament Peter Orero started his career as a teacher.

Before venturing into politics, Orero taught at various schools including Kamukunji Boys High School, Lang’ata High School and Upper Hill High School.

He later joined Dagoreti High School where he served as the principal. During his teaching career, he also served as the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association(KSSSA) chair.

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He resigned from Dagoreti High to venture into politics where he successfully contested for the Kibra MP seat in the August 9 elections.

6. SK Macharia

Moneyed entrepreneur Samuel Kamau Macharia started his career as a teacher.

He taught pupils at Makomboki Primary School as an untrained teacher (UT) for a year before joining Kahuhia Teachers Training College.

In 1961, he was posted to Gituru Primary School after attaining his P3 certificate.

Macharia later secured a scholarship to study in the United States before jetting back to Kenya in 1968 to work under the Jomo Kenyatta administration.

He resigned 10 years later and ventured into business.

Source: TUKO.co.ke