Morara Kebaso was not known to many until last year when he became a TikTok and X sensation for his near-perfect impersonation of President William Ruto.

The political activist would go around Kenya exposing failed and stalled government projects while mimicking President Ruto’s public address style including accent, dress code, and body language.

What some people don’t know is that Morara is a lawyer and a businessman who has created employment for hundreds of people both directly and indirectly.

A look into his early life shows that Morara was born in Kisii in the family of the first senator of Kisii, John Kebaso, during the majimbo system after independence. His late grandfather, George Kebaso, was a member of parliament for West Mogirango.

Born as a result of teenage pregnancy, Morara was raised by his aunt while his mother completed her education.

He excelled academically, attending a local primary school and later Maseno School, where his talents in drama and music earned him recognition.

His business career began in Kawangware  where he operated a hotel and an avocado business. Morara also revealed he taught mathematics and physics at Kabiru Secondary School and used to run other businesses including wines and spirits, online writing, selling insurance and land.

“In terms of hustling, I have done many things. I had a hotel in Kawangware 56. We lived in a single room in Kawangware Soko Mjinga, where we paid KSh 1800 (rent). I sold avocado that used to come from Kisii at KSh 5 then we resell at KSh 15. We used to make good profits, I should go back to that business,” he recalled.

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Currently, he runs his furniture business, which he said employs 85 Kenyans directly across different branches.

“Today I do furniture business. It is called Morara furnitures. Directly I have 85 employees.  We have a branch in Nairobi in Utawala, we have a branch on Kangundo road, we have a branch in Eldoret Annex, we have a branch in Bamburi in Mombasa,” he added.

The entrepreneur is currently in tax evasion disputes with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and has been summoned to appear at the taxman’s offices on January 13, 2025.

KRA alleges that the businessman has been filing nil returns despite pocketing up to Sh. 186 million from his businesses over the last three years.

The five companies associated with him that have been placed under investigation include Igrow Digital Enterprise, Morara Home Furniture, Luku Fashion, Morara Properties Limited (Blacksmith Morara Limited) and Backtent Security Limited.

The taxman has also listed three bank accounts that are operated by Morara. The accounts include a personal account owned by Morara, an account under Morara Properties Limited, and another account under Morara Home Furnitures.

The taxman says that the accounts owned by Morara received tax credits of Sh. 9.5 million in the year 2022. In the year 2023, they received Sh. 31.9 million. Last year, they received the biggest amount of Sh. 144.9 million.

The account under Morara Home Furnitures received the largest amount at Sh. 146.9 million.

Out of the Sh. 186 million earnings, the KRA states that Morara owes the State Sh. 27 million in taxes.

Other assets he allegedly owns are four cars, a TukTuk and a motorcycle