Cosmas Korir: From losing 2017 Konoin poll to winning Sh208m mega jackpot

Forty-year-old Cosmas Korir who won Sh208 million Mega SportPesa jackpot: In 2017, he vied for  the Konoin parliamentary seat and lost.  [Photo: Gilbert Kimutai/Standard]

When Cosmas Korir received a call from a strange number, he was hesitant to respond as he was on his way home.

Little did he know that the person on the line would make an announcement that would change his life forever.

At 40 years, Mr Korir becomes probably Kenya's latest millionaire correctly predicting the outcome of 17 football games in the SportPesa Mega Jackpot to win Sh208,733,619.

As news of his win filtered in, the sleepy village of Cheptabach in Konoin sub-county, Bomet County, came to life and elated neighbours celebrated.

When The Standard visited the village yesterday morning, the neighbours could not hide their joy, saying they were proud of Korir’s achievement.

“We are happy for him and proud that Korir has won. We really congratulate him and wish him well,” said Kiprono Tonui.

Normal business came to a standstill as neighbours discussed the win in groups.

“We are hesitant to go to the farm because Korir might return from his place of work while we’re away. We want to catch a glimpse of the new millionaire if he comes back today,” said another neighbour. The neighbours and Korir’s relatives said they would have a big party for him.

Korir, who unsuccessfully vied for the Konoin parliamentary seat last year, works as a director with the Agriculture department in West Pokot County.

Had he won the seat, he would be earning a salary of about Sh700,000 per month.

Instead, his interest in betting has turned him into an overnight millionaire.

Speaking to SportPesa Chief Executive Officer Ronald Karauri by phone on Sunday, Korir revealed that his previous major win with the betting company was Sh990 after spending Sh100.

And in a telephone interview with The Standard, the latest jackpot winner said he did not know he would score so big, adding that his previous predictions had not gone past 10 games.

“I have predicted the same before but I hardly won 10 games. But I have never lost hope in gambling and my persistence has paid off.”

Yesterday, Korir narrated how he had co-operated with friends to decide which teams to place their bets on.

“There were three of us and as usual we sat down and strategised on the teams we should bet our money on. My friends did not have money, so I shared Sh200 with them so they could bet on five teams each while I decided to bet on seven teams,” he said in a video that is circulating on social media platforms.

He said he was yet to decide what to do with the money.