Michael Ngige, a man who has drawn public attention for his striking resemblance to Kenya’s first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, has shared his reasons for leaving Kenya and starting anew in the United States.
Ngige’s journey from his birthplace in Nairobi to his current life in the US is marked by a search for identity and belonging.
Born at Pumwani Maternity Hospital and raised in the Jericho neighborhood, Ngige has faced questions about his parentage since childhood.
Friends and acquaintances have long noted his resemblance to Kenyatta, a comparison that began early in his life.
This resemblance has sparked curiosity about his biological father, leading to tension with his mother, who remains tight-lipped about his paternal lineage.
Ngige’s inquiries about his father were met with hostility, and he endured physical and psychological scars from these encounters.
“When I asked her about my father, she struck me so hard that I collided with the wall and saw stars,” Ngige recalled.
This strained relationship and the persistent absence of paternal affection motivated Ngige to seek answers and eventually distance himself from his family environment.
In 2012, Ngige moved to the United States, citing political turmoil in Kenya as a significant factor in his decision.
The move was an opportunity to escape the unresolved questions of his past and the harsh treatment he experienced.
Initially, he found refuge in a church and began working in food delivery.
Over time, he transitioned into the local excursions industry, establishing a new life and identity in a foreign land.
Despite the geographical distance, the intrigue surrounding his resemblance to Jomo Kenyatta followed Ngige to the US, where he continues to be mistaken for the iconic leader.
He has engaged in conversations with notable Kenyan figures, such as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who remarked on Ngige’s likeness to Kenyatta, humorously suggesting a possible reincarnation.
