Eldoret man builds three- bedroom mansion from selling mtumba ties

Almost every reveler who frequents Eldoret nightclubs knows Godfrey Nguawe, 54, the sharp dresser. Nguawe does not show up in bars and clubs to gulp alcohol, but to sell ties. He is a common figure, but has never tasted alcohol, he says. Unknown to many patrons, Nguawe has been in business since 1992 when he arrived in Eldoret from Siaya County.

“When I arrived in this town in 1992, I started hawking tea strainers. After a few months, I went to West market where I found a woman selling bales of second hand clothes but fortunately inside the bales were ties,” said Nguawe.

He adds, “The woman was angry and opted to burn the clothes, including ties, but I pleaded with her not to burn. I gave her Sh200 and she offered me everything.”

In an interview with The Nairobian, Nguawe says two decades later, he has educated five children through universities and colleges and managed to build a house for his family in Kipkenyo in the outskirts of Eldoret Town.

His customers include regular patrons in clubs to prominent politicians. Nguawe recalls meeting former powerful cabinet minister the late Nicholas Biwott outside Azir Akubar supermarket along Jomo Kenyatta Street in 1994.

“He spotted me hawking ties and gave me Sh1,000 for four ties, yet I was selling at Sh20 each,” he said.

Other notable clientele include Mzee Jackson Kibor, former State House Controller the late Abraham Kiptanui and former Eldoret Mayor Josiah Magut among others.

Always dressed in a suit and a tie, Nguawe starts his day at 5am where he prepares and sets out to the streets of Eldoret targeting employees and business people heading to work. Thereafter in the evenings, he does his rounds in bars and clubs. The soft-spoken man says most of his clients are senior personalities who work in various county and national government offices.

“I sometimes get calls in the morning or in the evening from a client requesting a visit to their homes to tie the neck ties. This, I get to make more, on top of selling,” Nguawe says.

Some of his regular clients include businessman Ken Ruto who first met Nguawe in Oloo street in 1997 as a Form One student. Ruto had lost his tie in the school compound and was forced to look for another one.

“Those days teachers were strict, if you were found without a tie you face it rough. When I realized I had lost my tie I rushed to town and because I did not have enough money I approached him and he sorted me out,” Ruto said.

Other clients such as Harrison Njoroge and Titus Kiptanui from Kapseret Constituency refer to Nguawe as a no-nonsense businessman.

“I was surprised to learn that the new permanent building near the sewage plant in Kipkenyo belongs to this man. I was shocked because I couldn’t believe that selling ties can make someone build such a huge house and educate his children,” Kiptanui said.

Apart from prominent businessmen, doctors from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital have also contributed to the success of his business.

When The Nairobian visited him at his Kipkenyo farm, he was busy preparing for his daily business. Sitting in his three bedroomed house surrounded with decorated flowers, Nguawe smiled after noticing our presence.

“Welcome, I know you might think that you are not in the correct place, this is my home, feel free and mostly comfortable,” he says. “I am alone here, my wife has gone home. The same way as my children are out there looking for jobs. The last born is in form two, so I am a lone ranger here.”

Nguawe is married to one wife and blessed with six children. He went to Sihani Primary School Nyang’ungo Village in Ugenya Constituency but dropped out in standard eight due to lack of school fees; after the death of his father.