Thursday, July 3, 2025
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Richard Kioko: How once a tycoon with lavish houses, cars went broke, now hawking in streets

With zero financial worries, Richard Kioko lived lavishly after years of struggle building his wealth; little did he know his empire would crumble years later, taking him back to the drawing board.

Kioko started small, earning a monthly salary of Sh4,500 before climbing the ranks to work with some of the biggest corporates in Kenya, including Toyota and Kenya Pipeline, and later establishing his own businesses.

Speaking on Afrimax, Kioko, who hails from Makueni County, revealed he began his career in the civil service in Kilifi and  Taita Taveta, serving in various roles.

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His life turned for the better after meeting a friend at an entertainment joint in Nairobi West who offered him a job opportunity. When asked how much salary he was earning, Kioko boldly said 18,000, yet he was earning Sh4,500.

That was how he made his way to Toyota Kenya, where he quickly ascended to the position of chief accountant and later operations manager.

He quit the job years later after another friend he met at a bar along Jogoo Road secured him a job at Kenya Pipeline, where he rose to become a chief accountant.

With a hefty salary, the University of Nairobi alumnus went on trying his hand at various businesses, took his four children to prestigious schools, and bought expensive cars and houses.

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His lavish life took a different turn in 2013 when he was informed that he had suffered a mild stroke and was admitted to a High Dependency Unit (HDU) for treatment.

Kioko was treated and discharged before being diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his stomach just a few months later.

“I was told I was the luckiest person on earth because stomach cancer is not easy to detect until it is too late,” he said.

The condition forced him to resign from his job and moved to India for treatment. So costly was the treatment that it drained all of his wealth. By the time he was recovering, Kioko revealed he had lost his business and was in a lot of debt.

“I got into debt, which I could not pay, and they kept on growing, which caused me more stress,” he said.

After recovering, he decided to document his life’s journey, from the height of his success to his most trying moments, in a book titled “Through the Wilderness of Life.”

The book details the life lessons Kioko learned and features photographs from his travels around the world during his prosperous days and encounters with prominent individuals. The book, which he hawks in the streets, is currently retailing at Sh2,300.

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