Grace to Grass; Jackpot Winner Breaks Silence After Losing Millions in This Business

“You can go wrong with real estate,” Samuel Abisai said while recounting how an apartment investment cost him millions of Kenyan shillings.

Abisai became widely known after winning KSh 221 million in the SportPesa Mega Jackpot in 2017. During an interview on the Iko Nini podcast, he opened up about how he managed part of the fortune and the unexpected difficulties he encountered after investing in property.

According to Abisai, he purchased an apartment block for approximately KSh 40 million. His expectation was that the property would appreciate over time while generating a reliable stream of rental income. However, the investment did not perform as he had anticipated.

He explained that managing tenants and dealing with maintenance responsibilities himself became a frustrating experience. According to him, investors can easily focus on the potential financial returns while underestimating the daily responsibilities involved in owning and managing rental property.

As market circumstances changed, Abisai eventually decided to sell the apartment block. However, he sold it for less than the amount he had originally paid, resulting in a loss of more than KSh 5 million.

Beyond his experience with real estate, Abisai also discussed how he protected himself after receiving his jackpot winnings. He said he deliberately maintained a low profile during his first year as a millionaire and avoided displaying an extravagant lifestyle on social media.

He explained that he had witnessed other lottery winners quickly lose their fortunes. For him, keeping away from unnecessary attention helped reduce temptation and protect his wealth.

The story generated various reactions from social media users. One user, @tribes, suggested that Abisai “was just not patient.”

Another user, @Shiqace, advised property owners to consider using professional agents to collect rent and manage tenants instead of handling everything personally.

@KingMkenya also commented: “Hizo ni biashara za wazee, heri hiyo pesa ningeenda China kubuy stock,” expressing a preference for using the money to purchase merchandise from China rather than investing in apartments.

Abisai has also invested in the fashion industry, an area he is passionate about. He founded Nguo Affordable, a business that specializes in affordable kitenge and Ankara clothing.

The fashion brand operates branches in Nairobi, Kitengela and Arusha. Abisai remains actively involved in designing and running the business and has also employed several of his siblings.

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