Several decades ago, when he and his family were enjoying a life of opulence, owning multiple cars and various assets, he could never have fathomed a future where he would lose all his wealth and resort to street vending.
He received a quality education thanks to his parents and even served in the civil service of his country after graduating from university. An interesting twist of fate occurred during a visit to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. While enjoying a drink at a popular bar, he struck up a conversation with a stranger who happened to be an accountant, just like him. In the course of their discussion, he casually mentioned that Nairobi was too expensive and he had no interest in working there.
This casual remark became a turning point for Kioko Kiundi. The stranger asked how much it would take to convince him to move to Nairobi for work, and he mentioned a figure four times his then-current salary of 4,500 shillings.
To his surprise, the man immediately invited him to his office, leading to a higher-paying job at Toyota Kenya. After working for Toyota Kenya for several years, he later transitioned to Kenya Pipeline for potentially better conditions. Remarkably, this job opportunity also materialized from a chance meeting with a stranger in a bar.
Kioko Kiundi enjoyed a comfortable life until February 2013 when he suddenly experienced chest pain while walking the streets of Nairobi. After undergoing numerous medical examinations, it was discovered that he had suffered a mild stroke. Realizing that he couldn’t find a permanent solution to his health problems in Kenya, he decided to seek medical treatment in India. Unfortunately, his insurance providers declined to cover the treatment expenses due to it being classified as a chronic condition, forcing him to bear the financial burden himself, which eventually took a toll on his finances.
At a certain point, he had to sell his business to generate funds for his healthcare, but he still remained indebted to some individuals. Failing to settle his debts, his creditors seized and auctioned his cars.
Source: PulseGhana