The Inspiring Story of John Methu
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| Photo/Sen John Methu || Nyandarua County/Facebook |
This is the beautiful and true story of a young man who overcame poverty, family separation, and political failure to become a voice for his people.
An Unexpected Start in Life
John Methu Muhia was born on February 29, 1991. Because he was born in a leap year, he jokingly calls himself a Valentine’s baby who loves people. But his life became difficult very quickly. When he was only two months old, his parents separated. His biological mother was young and did not have the money or resources to raise him and his older sister alone.
Because of these hardships, his mother took the young baby to Heni village in Nyandarua County. His grandmother took him in. For the rest of his childhood, his grandmother was the only mother he knew. In fact, John Methu grew up calling his real mother "Aunt Njeri" whenever she visited with gifts like bread and soda. He only discovered the truth about his biological parents many years later when he was older.
Growing Up in Hardship
Life in Heni village was a daily struggle. John and his grandmother lived in a tiny mud-walled hut with a grass-thatched roof. They did not even own the land they lived on; local village headmen gave them a small piece of land to stay on after family disagreements forced them to leave their previous home.
John’s grandmother was elderly, but she was an incredibly hardworking woman. Because their small plot of land could not grow enough food, she went out every single day to do heavy manual labor on the farms of wealthy neighbors. She used the little money she made to feed young John and ensure he had a chance at life. John credits his grandmother for teaching him discipline, hard work, and the true meaning of sacrifice.
Fighting for an Education
John was a very bright boy. He started his education at Heni Nursery School and moved on to Heni Primary School, where he excelled in his final exams. His high marks earned him a coveted spot at Nakuru High School, which is a prestigious national school.
Unfortunately, poverty followed him there. His grandmother and his community could not afford the expensive school fees. After falling deep into school fee arrears, John had to leave Nakuru High School and transfer to Ngoshen Secondary School, a local and much cheaper school. Instead of giving up, John kept studying hard and successfully completed his high school education, qualifying to join the university.
The Move to Pwani University
When it was time for university, John chose Pwani University in Kilifi County. Interestingly, he did not choose it because he knew anyone there. He chose it because it was located in the coastal region near Mombasa. Growing up poor, John had never traveled outside his local region except for his school trips to Nakuru. He saw university as his golden ticket to see the world, travel through the capital city of Nairobi, and experience life at the coast.
At Pwani University, John studied Political Science. It was here that his leadership qualities and business mind truly began to shine.
A Sharp Business Mind and Campus Politics
Many students struggle financially at university, but John found a clever way to survive. When he received his first Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) student loan of 26,000 Kenyan shillings, he did not spend it on luxury items. Instead, he invested all of it. He bought a commercial pool table and set it up near the university. Running this small pool table business gave him a steady income and kept him financially stable.
His financial independence and natural charisma made him popular among other students. In his very first year, he ran for office and became the Deputy Speaker of the Student Union. By his second year, he was elected as the Finance Director, a position that paid him a monthly stipend. He also became the Secretary-General of the Nyandarua Students Association, a role that helped him build a huge network of young people from his home county.
The Brave 2017 Senate Bid
In 2017, John graduated from the university. At just 26 years old, he decided to do something incredibly brave: he ran for the Nyandarua County Senator seat. He was going up against older, wealthier, and deeply established politicians. John had very little money, so he ran a low-budget, grassroots campaign powered by youth volunteers and small donations from well-wishers.
John did not win that election, but he shocked the entire county by gathering 29,000 votes. The loss was painful and left him completely broke because he had invested every single shilling into the campaign. Right after the elections, he stepped back from the limelight, got married, and began working as the Personal Secretary to the Speaker of the Nyandarua County Assembly. This job gave him four years of invaluable experience in public administration, communication, and government laws.
Grief and Personal Loss
Between 2017 and 2022, John went through a season of deep heartbreak. In 2011, his father passed away, just years after they had reconnected. Then, in 2018, tragedy struck twice. Both his biological mother and his beloved grandmother passed away in the same year. Within a short time, the core pillars of his family were gone. John felt alone, but he trusted that God was preserving him for a higher purpose.
The Historic 2022 Victory
In 2022, John Methu decided to run for the Nyandarua Senate seat a second time. This time, he ran on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket. The campaign was incredibly tough. His opponents had massive amounts of money and used political intimidation to slow him down.
But the voters of Nyandarua had not forgotten the bright young man from the mud huts of Heni. They remembered his humility and his consistency. In a historic landslide victory, John Methu won the election with over 126,000 votes, while his closest rival only got 50,000 votes. At a very young age, the boy who used to sleep under a grass-thatched roof walked into the Parliament of Kenya as a Senator.
Appointment
John methu was appointed as DCP party Secretary-General by the party leader H.E RIGATHI GACHAGUA the Second Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.
Working for the People of Nyandarua
Today, Senator John Methu is a strong and active voice in the Senate,Because of his background, he focuses heavily on issues that affect ordinary citizens, such as farming, youth unemployment, and regional development. He has served in key Senate committee leadership roles, contributing to important national debates regarding land, the environment, and natural resources. He continues to prove to young Kenyans across the country that your background does not limit your future, and that leadership is about character, not cash.