Tuesday, May 13 Nairobi: It was a full-circle moment today at Maridady Motors Ltd when CEO Eric Ngigi was reunited with someone he never expected to see not with a razor in hand, but ready to drive off in a brand-new Range Rover Vogue.
John Mwaura, the man behind Dollar Furniture KE, walked into the Kiambu-based dealership and paid cash for the luxury SUV, which had been a direct import unit ordered two months ago, valued at millions of shillings.
What made the moment emotional wasn’t just the sale but the shared history between the two men.
“John used to shave me about 15 or 16 years ago,” Ngigi said with a smile. “Back then, he was my regular barber. Today, he’s a serious businessman and now a repeat customer at Maridady Motors. This is the third vehicle he’s bought from us.”
According to Ngigi, Mwaura first bought a Nissan X-Trail from the dealership five years ago, followed by a commercial truck to support his growing furniture business.
“Today’s sale isn’t just about a car. It’s about watching someone grow. It shows the power of hard work, the value of relationships, and why you should never look down on anyone,” Ngigi added.
Mwaura’s story is one of resilience and transformation. After high school, with no clear path ahead, he began hustling in the beauty industry, working as a barber, and then briefly as a baker and model. Despite the setbacks, he never gave up.
“I’ve always relied on myself,” he told TUKO.co.ke in an earlier interview. “You have to grind for success nothing good comes easy.”
He later shifted into furniture making, starting Dollar Furniture KE at Kamakis on the Eastern Bypass with just KSh 100,000. His initial capital could only afford two seats.
But slowly, his brand grew fueled by consistency, creativity, and a hands-on leadership style.
Mwaura now employs several youth on a casual basis, giving jobless young people a chance to earn and stay productive.
Today, as he drove off in the luxury Range Rover Vogue, Ngigi stood outside his showroom beaming.
“This is why you respect people,” he said. “That barber chair John stood behind years ago? It was the beginning of something bigger for both of us.”
He hopes that today’s story will inspire young Kenyans still grinding in various trades.
“Never look down on anyone. And never give up. You never know how far your hustle will take you,” he said.
