Gachau Njoroge: Nairobi bodybuilder recalls being offered Ksh 2K to become a goon
Renowned city bodybuilder and boxer Gachau Njoroge has recalled how his formidable physique made him a magnet for attention during his college years, to the extent he was once approached with an offer of Ksh2,000 to join a group of goons tasked with preventing students from staging a protest.
Speaking on the Iko Nini podcast on Monday, March 31, 2025, Gachau revealed that he had to turn down the offer, knowing full well that no amount of muscle could guarantee victory against a crowd of angry students.
According to him, the practice of his Nairobi-based university of hiring goons to suppress student protests was widespread, and his well-built frame had made him an ideal candidate for such a role.
“When I was at this particular Nairobi university, there were always goons—guys hired to bully students who were protesting for a good cause. The administration had a way of working with these goons to quell demonstrations. So at one point, we were approached and asked to join in, but I refused. I told them that’s not the reason I hit the gym.”
Life-threatening task
Gachau further recalled that the money being offered for such dangerous tasks was insultingly low, barely enough to tempt anyone with a sense of self-preservation.
He noted that while the idea of getting paid to keep order might have seemed like an easy side hustle to some, the reality was that going up against a furious mob was a near-suicidal mission.
“They’d tell you, ‘Come, there’s money,’ but in the end, you’d only get Ksh 2,000. And then, the students you’re supposed to fight—what happens if they refuse to back down? They could easily kill you! They’re all high on testosterone, and when chaos erupts, anything can happen. I remember back on campus, goons were everywhere, and fights were common. There were times when I found myself caught up in some brawls in clubs around Westlands. But back then, I was drinking, and that’s why alcohol is tricky—it gets you into situations you might not even intend to be in.”
Drunk fighter
Gachau, who said he never liked violence on the whole, went on to caution that drinking makes people far more susceptible to physical confrontations, sometimes without them even realising it.
He admitted that once he started making some money, he would go out drinking, and before he knew it, he would find himself involved in altercations—some intentional, others unavoidable.
The fights, according to him, used to cause friction between his friends, and he never adored it because the fights would easily turn sour.
For this reason, he takes time to advise fellow bodybuilders who work as club bouncers to be extremely cautious when handling intoxicated patrons, warning that a drunk person might provoke a fight they cannot sustain, leaving the bouncer in a position where they could unintentionally cause serious harm—or worse.
“That’s why being a bouncer is such a tough job. I always tell guys in that line of work to handle drunks carefully because you could end up killing someone. You have to be extremely cautious. Personally, I never back down from a fight when it’s necessary, but sometimes, you also need to rank yourself and know when to step away.”
On steroid use
Gachau went on to discuss his experience with performance-enhancing substances, revealing that the use of amino tablets and anabolic agents had contributed significantly to his current physique.
He admitted that he started using supplements in 2016 when he began earning money through academic writing, allowing him to afford a disciplined diet and additional support for muscle growth.
However, he was quick to debunk the common misconception that anyone using such substances is no longer natural.
He explained the critical distinction between supplements, anabolic steroids, and hormones, asserting that it is the use of exogenous hormones—not supplements or standard anabolic agents—that truly alters one’s natural physiology.
“I started using supplements in 2016, and even now, people still claim that if you take amino tablets, you’re no longer natural. It’s unfortunate because steroids and supplements are not the same thing. Steroids are exogenous hormones, and while they are effective, supplements often fall short. The real issue is when you start using synthetic hormones—that’s when you go overboard and lose your natural balance. I began taking amino tablets while still in college, but at that time, I was also following a strict diet because I had the money to do so”.
Despite his use of supplements, Gachau maintained that discipline, diet, and a rigorous workout routine remain the foundation of any successful bodybuilding journey, warning against reckless use of substances that could lead to irreversible health consequences.
