Mike, a former Geography and Christian Religious Education (CRE) teacher from Wanyororo B in Nakuru County, Kenya, has turned his life around after relocating to the US.
Previously earning a modest salary of KSh 40,000 per month under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Mike now earns up to KSh 40,000 per day working as a Metro Bus driver in the United States.
After teaching for five years at Gatero Secondary School and later Kenyatta High School, Mike realized that his salary was not sufficient to support his family and friends as he had hoped.
The lack of financial flexibility, coupled with his desire to provide more, pushed him to seek better opportunities elsewhere. In 2016, he made the bold decision to leave Kenya for the US, where he embarked on a journey of transformation.
Before moving abroad, Mike had briefly ventured into the tourism industry, working as a tour driver and eventually starting his own companies, Migration Safaris and Maasai Mara Safaris.
Despite some success, the tourism business proved unstable, particularly during times of health crises and economic turbulence, which severely affected his income.
This uncertainty prompted him to relocate to the US with his wife, with the hope of building a more stable future.
Upon arrival, Mike embraced various jobs without discrimination, from working in adult family homes to caring for people with disabilities.
Eventually, he decided to pursue a career as a bus driver, a move that dramatically changed his fortunes.
Securing a Metro Bus driver job in the US was no easy feat. Mike underwent 33 days of rigorous training, which required him to remain clean from alcohol and master all aspects of Metro operations, including routes and emergency procedures.
Out of a class of 25, only 10 candidates successfully completed the program. Mike’s hard work paid off, as he secured a permanent position with the company.
Now, Mike works a minimum of eight hours a day, earning approximately KSh 4,000 (32 USD) per hour. In a single day, he can make up to KSh 40,000 for completing 10 bus rounds.
Unlike in Kenya, where buses wait for passengers, US Metro Buses operate on schedule, regardless of the number of passengers, allowing him to keep moving throughout his shift.
