People usually quit their jobs as soon as they are
elected to political office, but for one member of the Nakuru County
Assembly, washing toilets remains his cherished work.
Flamingo Ward Representative Moses Gichangi, a
politics first-timer, arrives at his workplace of choice on Gusii Road
in Nakuru in Kenya's mid-west at 6am every day, and — oblivious of his
new status — goes about cleaning the toilet before settling outside to
spruce up his clients’ shoes.
His way of life has left his friends and foes puzzled, especially the people he serves, as many earn much less than he does.
"Why would a member of the County Assembly
continue washing toilets and handing tissue paper to customers when his
MCA salary enables him to lead a comfortable life?” says Mr Peterson
Ruchu as his shoes are cleaned by the politician.
The assemblies are the legislative bodies of Kenya's newly-minted county governments.
But Mr Gichangi asserts that his love for cleaning shoes and toilets is in line with his vision to be a role model to the youth.
"I am a good role model to my fellow youth who
quit the jobs that brought them riches once they get money, only to fall
from grace to grass like a pack of cards,” says Mr Gichangi, a holder
of a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Jomo Kenyatta
University of Agriculture and Technology.
Snub jobs
He has worked as a toilet attendant for the last
six years, during which he has been encouraging young people not to
choose jobs based on their education or salary.
The toilet business started off as an environmental project for the youths but has ended up creating jobs for many.
"Before I was elected to the County Assembly, I
had managed to recruit a group of 10 youths who came together and formed
an environmental lobby group. We not only clean toilets but also hold
clean-ups in the estates," he says.
Mr John Mwangi, a long time client of the politician, says he is lucky to be served by a mheshimiwa (Kiswahili for honoruable), “which is a rare privilege only recorded in the Bible”.
“Gichangi is a long time friend and nothing much
about and around him has changed. He does his job and attends to all of
us like he always did before,” he says.
Like in any other business, there are a number of
challenges the politician-cum-businessman faces, with some customers
being arrogant and disrespectful.
Drunkards, for example, vomit on the floor of the public toilet while other clients deliberately misuse the facility.
White collar
Mr Gichangi says discipline has enabled him and
his co-workers to handle any type of client though. The same virtue came
in handy during political campaigns in March, where Mr Gichangi did not
bother hitting back at his rivals, some of whom labelled him a toilet
cleaner.
The politician says his dream is to change the
attitude of many youths who believe only white collar jobs pay. In his
ward, he has started a major drive to urge youths to save money in
self-help groups to start businesses.
His campaign has been received well by the locals, and some of his colleagues have borrowed a leaf from him.
Mr Gichangi urges young people to take advantage
of the easy terms and conditions for starting a business, where title
deeds, log books and share certificates are no longer required while
applying for government loans.
At the toilet, they work in shifts and Mr Gichangi
prefers the morning one because, at this time, the assembly is usually
not in session.
At the House, he is the chairman of young people
in politics, and he has been encouraging youths and women to take up
leadership roles. Being new in politics, the lawmaker carries along
several documents and goes through them before entering the House.
SOURCE: AFRICAN REVIEW
SOURCE: AFRICAN REVIEW
