A seasoned painter from Meru found himself overwhelmed with emotion on an ordinary afternoon along Gitanga Road in Nairobi, after a stranger’s act of generosity changed the direction of his day in a way he never anticipated.
Daniel, 65, has spent the better part of the last two years standing at the roadside, holding up a hand-painted placard that reads:
“I do house painting, call Daniel,” complete with his phone number. Armed with more than two decades of experience in the trade, the elderly man shows up almost daily hoping a passing motorist or pedestrian will need his services.
Two Years of Standing by the Roadside
Life on the roadside has not been easy for Daniel. While some assignments pay well, dry spells can stretch for up to a fortnight without a single call.
Beyond the uncertainty of finding work, he has also had to contend with dishonest clients.
“Some people are also not so good; you work for them, then they refuse to pay,” he said.
Back in Meru, his wife depends on whatever he earns. His children are grown and married, so the responsibility of caring for her falls squarely on his shoulders, making every job he secures count.
Daniel in tears after well-wisher gifts him KSh 50k
Content creator Shiksha Arora encountered Daniel during a street interview and was struck by his quiet determination.
Rather than simply filming and moving on, she invited him for a meal at a nearby restaurant. It was there that the afternoon took a turn Daniel had not seen coming.
A well-wisher, moved by Daniel’s story, sent KSh 50,000 directly to his mobile phone. The moment the money landed, Daniel was unable to hold himself together. He broke down in tears, sat back in his chair and stared ahead, visibly struggling to process what had just happened.
“I do not know what to say, thank you so much,” he managed to say, his voice thick with emotion.
Shiksha also presented him with branded merchandise and an umbrella to help him manage the long hours he spends outdoors.
Beyond painting walls, Daniel carries a quiet dream: to one day build stone rental houses. For now, that vision keeps him standing by the road each morning, placard in hand, waiting for the next opportunity.
