Mosiria moved by story of Nairobi homeless man defying odds to earn pennies
By Charles Ouma, February 4, 2026Geoffrey Mosiria was left inspired after an encounter with a homeless man in the streets of Nairobi, earning an honest living through his hard work and showing compassion despite his difficult circumstances.
The head of the customer care department in Nairobi County shared what stood out for him during his interaction with the man who identified himself as James on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, via a statement on his social media platforms.
The young man who repairs shoes, restores the colour of old leather jackets, and takes on any small manual job he can find explained to Mosiria that his services do not have a fixed price, as he accepts whatever his clients can afford, explaining that he is alive to the fact that levels of income differ.
“What moved me most is that he doesn’t even have fixed prices for his work; you simply pay what you can afford. And if you don’t have anything, he will still help you and solve your problem without complaining,” Mosiria stated.
Giving his take, Mosiria noted that people who believe in honesty, hard work and compassion are hard to come by in a city where many people chase quick money.
“In a city where many people chase quick money, meeting someone who believes in honest work, simplicity, and self-reliance was truly inspiring. Sometimes the strongest people are the ones with the least, but the biggest hearts,” he added.
Video of Mosiria’s interaction with James
The Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service captured their interaction in a video in which he praised James for his honesty and compassion despite his circumstances, remarking that these attributes would take him far.
“Huyu ujamaa ako honest and very genuine, wewe utaenda mbali (This young man is very honest and genuine, I see him going far),” Mosiria said in the video.
On his part, James explained that his approach to pricing is inclusive to cater for Kenyans who need his services but may not have the money, a model that revealed ed compassion and acceptance of the harsh economic realities facing many Kenyans who need his services but may not be able to afford them.
“Kulingana na mimi nowadays siendi na limit ya pesa, ni kulingana ni ile kitu mtu ameweza ambapo hatutioshani ki mapato, (I don’t focus on money, my pricing depends on what one can afford as we do not all have equal income),” James explained, adding that he accepts as low as 10 shillings.
Simple approach to life
James also lifted the lid on his simplistic approach to life, revealing that he has no phone, no bank account, and no permanent place to call home.
Despite his struggles, he carries himself with dignity and contentment and has chosen not to marry for now because he doesn’t want someone to depend on him when he is still fighting to provide for himself.
He believes that if he ever gets a partner, she must be hardworking, independent, and willing to accept him just as he is.