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For years, bad academic grades have been associated with failure.
But this is no longer the case. This notion has been disabused by a number of celebrities. Their successful lifestyles is proof that no matter how low our grades are, it’s not the end of the world.
Take Maina Kageni for instance. After completing his high school education at Laiser Hill, a former car dealer and KTN news anchor, Maina Kageni flew to the UK for his college education.
The top radio host however did not register in college and started working as a truck driver and fish distributor for some Chinese firm.
When his mother went for his graduation, she was shocked to find out that her son’s name was not on the list of graduands. She left a disappointed woman and warned him not to come back to Nairobi.
Lucky for Maina, life turned out just fine as he now leads a lavish lifestyle. He drives sleek cars and wines and dines with the who-is-who. In addition, the Classic FM Breakfast Show host holidays in luxurious cities worldwide.
“Life offered great opportunities. You learn lessons that no school can ever teach you,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pastor Victor Kanyari declared on TV that he is a Form Two drop-out.
The pastor, famous for his ‘panda mbegu’ and Sh310 call for offerings, runs a very successful ‘ministry’ and is living large to the point of moving around in a Range Rover Sport.
What he lacks in his academics he makes up for in charisma.
Lack of a degree has stopped him from seeking and seizing lucrative opportunities. Even a failed mastery of English is no match to his successful ‘gospel empire.”
Another brilliant dropout is DJ Kaytrixx. Having scored a B- in KCSE at Allidina Visram High, Kaytrixx joined Moi University hoping to graduate with a degree in engineering.
He, however dropped out after three years to pursue a career in deejaying.
“My mind was always set on deejaying and felt like school was a waste of my time. The whole school process was slowing me down. I wanted to make money,” he said.
From earning Sh200 a night at Moi University’s local club house, the KTN Straight Up resident DJ now charges between Sh60,000 to Sh120,000 a night. He is however planning on going back to school.
Then there is the unassailable entrepreneurial genius of the late politician Njenga Karume. His Midas touch is well documented in his bio, Beyond Expectations: From Charcoal to Gold. Karume did not benefit from formal education.
But that was not hindrance, as he turned out to be a shrewd businessman and politician.
At the Coast, Likoni MP sat for his high school exams in 2000 in order to comply with proposed laws that legislators should at least have a form-four certificate. Mwalimu Masoud Mwahima sat for his KCSE examinations as a private candidate at Kwale High School and straight Es, including, ironically, Kiswahili.
The once mayor of Mombasa never commented on the issue while his aide declined to answer questions, saying it was a “private affair.”
Still, controversial billionaire businessman Deepak Kamani, told a local daily that he never liked school. He was always last in class, even in swimming! He dropped out in form two to join his father’s auto shop.
Also, fast-rising gospel musician Christine Otieno considers earning herself a KCSE certificate after scoring a D+ an achievement.
The Sonko wa Masonko and Thuond Mula hitmaker was aiming for a C+ and above when she sat for KCSE exams last year. But she is nonetheless satisfied with her D+ ‘achievement.’
“Though I had hopes of scoring a C+ and above, I am still grateful,” she said. The Groove Awards winner for Best Song in Nyanza in 2013 and 2014 was a student at New George’s School in Nairobi.
