Beatrice Njoki: From Millionaire In US To Taxi Driver In Kenya

• Ten years ago, Beatrice Njoki Mangure moved to the United States (US) in pursuit of better opportunities
• She settled in the state of Georgia where she started a catering business (New Light Catering) specialising in Kenyan dishes
• Once accustomed to a life of luxury, Njoki faced unforeseen challenges that prompted her to return back home

TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto brings over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

A decade ago, Beatrice Njoki Mangure relocated to the United States (US) in search of greener pastures.

The Kenyan businesswoman's life took an unexpected turn as she transitioned from a millionaire living in the United States to a taxi driver in Kenya.

Once accustomed to a life of luxury, Njoki faced unforeseen challenges that prompted her to return back home.

Motivated by a desire for a more meaningful and grounded existence, she made the courageous decision to return to her roots. Embracing a simpler lifestyle, Njoki found purpose behind the wheel of a taxi enabling her to make ends meet.

The Kenyan Diaspora reported that her troubles started following the dissolution of her six-year marriage.

"My husband left me for a house girl as he claimed he needed an uneducated woman for a wife," she revealed.

Why Beatrice Njoki relocated to the US

Njoki ran a business with her husband and took a loan to finance it. She gave the money to her husband to manage it.

However, after she was left heartbroken she found a way out of the country.

She was depressed but was treated and moved to the US to start a new life.

"It was one of the hardest times in my life. I went through a lot of pain. It was traumatising because I had to be treated for depression," she said in an interview with Afrimax.

New Light Catering

After moving to the US, Njoki settled in the state of Georgia, where she started a catering business (New Light Catering) specialising in Kenyan dishes.

She prepared Kenyan cuisines such as chapati and samosa, endearing her to Kenyans and other Africans in the US.

The business thrived, and she managed to acquire two cars but things went south when she was injured at her workplace.

"One day I felt down and I had my back injured. I did not take it seriously because after going to hospital, I did not break any of my bones," she recalled.

Why Beatrice Njoki closed her business

Six months later, she realised the injuries affected her as she could not stand, hence she was forced to close her business.

On her way back home, she lost all her belongings that she had put in a container. She came back with just two suitcases.

"That was what I brought back into this country. I lost things worth a lot of money running into millions. But I didn't get anything," she disclosed.

Her business, which she had started before relocating abroad, collapsed due to fraudulent activities that left her with nothing.

She resorted to leasing a car to work as a taxi driver despite her eye problems. She pleaded for help to enable her to buy her car.

Why man returned from US empty-handed

In related news, an African man said he lived in London for nine years and in the USA for 21 years, but in the end, he returned home sick.

He said one night, after making love to his American wife, he started barking like a dog, but the cause of the sickness couldn't be explained.

According to the man named Pastor Joseph Ibironke, he had four children with his American wife, but he doesn't know their whereabouts.

"I was hospitalised for 14 months, and the doctors couldn’t detect what was wrong with me. Nigerians who saw my condition said it was a spiritual attack and advised that I be taken back to Nigeria for treatment."