Papa Shirandula’s Njoro: From Selling Sweets to Owning Rental Houses, Matatus and Other Properties
Papa Shirandula actor Kenneth Gichoya, popularly known as Njoro, has come out to discuss his past life, and how he used to sell sweets at the Kenya National Theatre.
Speaking on Churchill’s journey series, Njoro disclosed that he preferred hawking sweets because he could make more money than thespians who had secured acting roles.
To gain entry into the theatre, he would ask the producers to give him a role, as an extra, and would not demand payment for the service.
“I did not want to act, I just wanted to sell sweets. I just did the math; actors were paid Ksh300 a day, and I would get Ksh3,000 from selling my sweets.
“I was still a funny guy and would make people laugh and happy as I sold them the sweets. The school boys and girls would miss me if I failed to show up for one reason or the other,” he narrated.
He added that his competitors would face a hard time because he always sold more than they did.
“I would buy a packet of sweets at Ksh75, and I would make a profit of Ksh250. All I needed was to leave my house with Ksh100, go to Kirinyaga road and get one packet. By the end of the day, however, I would end up selling like 10 packets,” he stated.
The actor, who has two children, stated that the business helped him to cater for his family.
In a previous interview, Njoro recalled that the late Charles Bukeko (Papa Shirandula) offered him a role on TV, and which shaped his career.
The two had met at the Kenya National Theatre during Njoro’s hawking days.
The renowned personality is a jack of all trades. He now runs an entertainment joint, hardware and is also into the matatu business.
Asked how he runs all these businesses, he says; “I have delegated some businesses to my wife, so that she can keep herself busy and have something to do.”
Njoro advised fellow thespians to have side hustles as a fall back plan in case their careers were to come to an end prematurely.
