Widowed Dandora matatu driver breaks down after Shiksha Arora gifts her Ksh85K
By Steve Ireri, September 20, 2025A 48-year-old female matatu driver from Dandora was left in tears after media personality Shiksha Arora surprised her with a gift of Ksh85,000, alongside a makeover and a luxurious dining experience at a five-star hotel.
This unfolded on the afternoon of Saturday, September 20, 2025, when the media personality strolled through town and randomly asked to be directed to a female matatu driver who happened to be at the stage at that moment.
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It was in that moment that she crossed paths with Margaret, a woman who laid bare the story of how life’s unrelenting storms had driven her into the elusive, male-dominated world of matatu driving after losing her husband in her early twenties.
She noted that the sudden loss left her with young children to care for, compelling her to work tirelessly to keep her household afloat.
“I have been a driver for ten years now. I once had a husband, but he died, and that left me without an alternative,” Margaret shared.
She recalled that before joining the matatu industry, she had been doing odd jobs such as washing clothes for people in order to earn a living. She explained that she eventually became a matatu driver and has now been working in the industry for ten years, despite the challenges that come with it.
“Before joining the matatu industry, I used to do menial jobs like washing clothes for people. That is how my journey began,” she shared.
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She stated that the work is risky, narrating how she often fears for her safety while heading out early to open gates or while on duty, as she has previously been robbed of two mobile phones in Dandora.
She emphasised that her daily earnings average around Ksh1,200, but the amount is barely sufficient because all of it goes directly into daily expenses, leaving no chance for savings.
“This work that I do is very risky. When you wake up early to open the gate or head to work, you can easily be attacked. I live in Dandora, and I have already been robbed of two mobile phones. The one I am using now is not even mine; it is something I had to borrow. In a day, I make around Ksh1,200, but it is never enough because what you earn daily is the same money you use to survive that day,” she added.
She said that her family lives in a house where the rent is Ksh6,500 per month, a figure that constantly puts her under pressure given her modest income.
She added that providing for her children’s education has been a struggle, as she often finds herself forced to prioritise paying school fees over funding extracurricular trips.
“I pay Ksh6,500 rent, yet we are seven people living in the same house. My children never go on school trips because I cannot afford it. I am always left wondering whether I should pay their fees or sacrifice that for trips, but fees always come first,” Margaret said.
She further revealed that working as a matatu driver exposes her to verbal abuse daily, something she detests as she does not want her children to be exposed to such insults when they visit her at work.
She stressed that despite these hardships, she continues to soldier on to provide for her family, but the gesture by Shiksha Arora had left her deeply moved.
“Honestly, I am so grateful for what you have done for me. I never imagined someone would take me to such a place, buy me new clothes, and even think of sending me such an amount of money. This has really touched me,” she said in tears, overwhelmed by the act of kindness.
Inspiring story
On her part, Arora explained that Margaret’s resilience had inspired her, noting that despite the struggles life had thrown her way, she continued to carry on without complaints.
She added that Margaret’s smile on that day symbolised the importance of making people feel truly special and appreciated.
“Meet Margaret, a 48-year-old matatu driver who is the sole breadwinner for a family of 7! Her husband died when she was very young, in her early twenties, leaving behind young kids & since then she’s been working tirelessly to survive! We surprised her. Look at her smile when we gave her a makeover, him and I took her to a 5-star hotel for the very first time, we had dinner together, laughed, danced, she got to feel truly special & appreciated,” Arora wrote on Facebook.