Monday, September 6, 2010

Rags-to-riches as Lady Luck smiles on victim of post-poll violence



Mr James Mungai Kihia, the winner of the Range Rover Sport in the Shinda Smart competition that was being aired by NTV. Photo/ANTHONY OMUYA

By NYAMBEGA GISESA engisesa@yahoo.com
Posted Sunday, September 5 2010 at 21:08

Hope, trust and a never-say-die spirit helped an internally displaced man to become an overnight millionaire.

Mr James Kihia Munge won a Range Rover Sport on Sunday in a promotion, the Shinda Smart competition. Mr Munge, 50, said although he had taken part in many competitions before — without winning anything — he never lost hope until his efforts paid off last week.


“I have spent thousands of shillings and gone into debt, but never lost hope that my day was to finally come. “I have learnt never to give up hope even when the worst happens in my life. During the 2007 post-election violence, I was chased from my home in Burnt Forest and lost all my earthly belongings, but I chose to remain strong,” Mr Munge said.
The Range Rover Sport that Mr Munge won on Sunday. Photo/ANTHONY OMUYA
Rented land

“I fled to Tigoni in Limuru, rented a piece of land and started farming. I built a mud house for my family of five. Later, I borrowed Sh150,000 from Equity Bank to expand my farming venture.

“When I heard of the Shinda Smart competition, I used part of the loan to enter. I spent more than Sh50,000 competing,” he said. After that, he spent many sleepless nights and days. “I was fearful, but I didn’t lose hope. I knew God was with me all along,” he said.

“I have participated in almost all competitions, but have never won anything,” he said. “Maybe God was saving this one for me,” he said. The Range Rover Sport is the most luxurious car to be won in any competition in Kenya. It is Range Rover’s most performance-oriented vehicle yet. It commands a noticeable sense of presence.

The car was the grand prize for the Shinda Smart Sh90 million in 90 days competition which was aired on NTV. The competition was sponsored by software firm Flint Limited and started in June.

Some Sh1 million was won weekly for 13 weeks, Sh5 million every month for three months before the grand prize, the Range Rover Sport car worth Sh14 million, which was handed to the winner on Sunday morning at Westgate.

Disbelief was the first reaction on the face of the 50-year-old when he received the Sh14 million phone call. “You are the winner of the Range Rover Sport Car,” the voice told the unbelieving father of five, who says he is accustomed to getting calls from conmen.

“If you are in Kenya, you link any good news, any sweet message you get first to a conman,” Mr Munge told the Nation.On Sunday morning, the news was too good for him as he burst out into excitement after being handed the keys to his car. Mr Munge drove away the luxurious car to his makeshift mud house in Tigoni with his status totally changed.

“I am now honourable. Today, I will drive the big cars that our politicians drive,” he bragged happily, comparing his new car to those that mostly Kenyan politicians drive. And for now, he says is yet to decide whether to sell the car or not.

3 comments:

  1. How many entries did the winner accumulate?
    Tom Theuri
    Kerugoya

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