A Kenyan businessman has recalled how a job that involved polishing shoes in Las Vegas, US, earned him more money than he had expected on his very first night.
What surprised him most was that some customers paid nearly 10 times the advertised price for the simple service.
How Kenyan man made KSh 286k polishing shoes
Serengeti Falcons said he made $2,200 (approximately KSh 286,000) on his first night polishing shoes, thanks partly to the generosity of high-end clients who were willing to pay more than the listed fee.
Speaking during an interview with Alex Mwakideu, Falcons recounted how he arrived in Las Vegas and took up the job.
“Nilienda Las Vegas, kazi ilikuwa ya kupiga rangi kiatu. So my first night, nilichapa kazi nikatengeneza $2,200. First night,” he said.
According to Falcons, polishing one shoe cost $11, approximately KSh 1,500. However, some customers would hand him $100, or about KSh 13,000, for the service.
The businessman said many of his customers were wealthy individuals, including celebrities, whose tips significantly increased his earnings.
“Unapigia mtu rangi imeandikwa ni $11 kiatu moja, lakini wanakupea mia. Niliangalia, nikasema basi wacha Mungu aitwe Mungu,” he recalled.
The unexpected earnings made a strong impression on Falcons, who said the experience changed his perception of the opportunities available through the job.
Although the service had a relatively modest listed price, the additional money customers gave him meant that a single night’s work could generate a substantial income.
Warned against revealing his earnings
Falcons also recalled a conversation with a man who was teaching him how to polish shoes.
After learning that Falcons had made $2,200 in one night, the man advised him against telling other people how much he had earned.
He explained that the man cautioned him against disclosing the amount because of the financial difficulties many people face in Africa.
Despite the warning, Falcons said he did not agree with the idea of concealing his earnings. He also disclosed that he worked four days a week during that period.
From polishing shoes to building business
Falcons is a Kenyan entrepreneur who serves as the chief executive officer of Discover Africa Safaris.
He has also spoken about his experience as a limousine driver, during which he said he served high-profile personalities, including Snoop Dogg and Oprah Winfrey.
His experience polishing shoes in Las Vegas is another chapter in that journey, highlighting the work he did before establishing himself in the business world.
For Falcons, the first-night earnings remain a memorable example of how a job that might appear ordinary can deliver an unexpected financial reward when customers are willing to pay beyond the advertised price.
