Michael Gitonga Njogo, a resident of Umoja in Nairobi, recently became the talk of the town when his striking resemblance to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta went viral on social media. Njogo’s story gained widespread attention after he appeared on a local TV station where his resemblance to the president sparked public debate.
Njogo, who is nicknamed ‘Uhunye’ in the hood, has always gone about his business unperturbed by the resemblance until the TV interview catapulted him into the public limelight and unexpected fame. His story spread like a bushfire, and people who meet him within Umoja jokingly request him to ‘lift’ the latest directive that all bars should be closed for one month so as to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Njogo was born in Nakuru’s Kiambogo area, where his parents were both police officers. However, his mother passed away when he was in Class Eight, and his father had passed away a year earlier. From then on, Njogo and his sister were forced to start hustling to take care of their younger siblings, doing odd jobs to survive.
For the past four years, Njogo has been doing small businesses in Nairobi, including buying and selling potatoes. Before his newfound fame, he went about his daily activities without much attention, despite people making remarks about his resemblance to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Njogo’s story is a testament to the power of social media in making people famous overnight. His resemblance to the Kenyan president has made him a popular figure in his community and beyond. It is also a reminder that we all have unique stories and talents that could gain us recognition and attention if given the right platform.
