From a class eight dropout to a celebrity master of customised cars
Boniface Mumia alias OG wa Kunyambisha a car enthusiast from Nakuru.
Known for his iconic purple car that blasts music loud enough to turn heads, Boniface Mumia, popularly known as OG wa Kunyambisha, a self-made car enthusiast, is cruising his way to the top of Kenya's car customisation industry.
The name OG wa Kunyambisha, was coined from rapper Khaligraph Jones' nickname OG Papa Jones, whom he idolises.
Mumia's life story is not your average success story. His journey began in a classroom where nothing seemed to make sense.
"I took my eighth grade exams and got 120," he says unapologetically. "The teachers laughed at me. They called me 'Ng'ombe' because of my poor performance," Mumia recalls.
School was a battleground he never conquered, but life after school would test him even harder. With no qualifications, he found himself working odd jobs, including long nights as a security guard, earning just enough to survive.
But in a twist of fate, a friend invited him to learn car wiring at a small garage in Kaptembwo, 140.
Boniface Mumia alias OG wa Kunyambisha posses with his car. He bought the car in 2017 at Sh15,000 when it was disposed of as scrap metal.
"Everything changed there," he recalls. "For the first time, I found something I was good at. I learnt to tweak engines and slowly I found my thing".
His breakthrough came with the bold decision to buy a Toyota K70 that was sold as scrap metal for Sh15,000. He refurbished and customised the vehicle, which is now very popular on the streets of Nakuru.
With flashing lights, heavy bass and a uniquely pimped-out design, the car quickly became the talk of the town.
"I just wanted to stand out. The car gave me visibility. It got me into places I never thought I would be. These rooms include hangouts and gigs with big names like rapper Khaligraph Jones, comedian turned politician Jalango, Kenyan Prince and comedian Mulamwah," he says, noting that's how the name OG wa Kunyambisha came about.
Mumia also reveals that his journey into pimping didn't just come from the garage. He learnt much of what he knows through social media, particularly from a Tanzanian he discovered online.
"I wrote to him on his platform and later travelled to Namanga for a month to learn from him," he says.
"At the moment, pimping cars is my main source of income. I had to move from Nakuru to Nairobi because there are more gigs in Nairobi. On a slow day, I tune at least five cars. In Nakuru it would be two," he reveals.
Boniface Mumia alias OG wa Kunyambisha purple car. He made several customization to the Toyota K70 including Music, led lights, among other customizations.
"My price depends on the client. I can never turn anyone away because I've grown from people holding my hand. I'll never forget my humble beginnings. Pimping a car can cost as little as Sh20,000 and can go up to Sh400,000," he adds, noting that it depends on the model of car and the type of customisation.
He urges people to never downplay their humble beginnings: "My life didn't end when I dropped out of school. If you have passion and are willing to work hard, you can make something out of nothing. Not everyone is going to be a lawyer or a doctor. But everyone has a talent. Mine just happened to be under the bonnet."