Viral sensation Goliath Wa Bungoma, the young car broker who was mocked nationwide just months ago for his heavy Luhya accent and told to “go back to the village”, has pocketed a whopping KSh 500,000 commission after closing the sale of a brand-new Toyota Prado VXL worth KSh 9.5 million.
The 26-year-old shared the good news on his rapidly growing TikTok page on Saturday, silencing thousands of online critics in one triumphant post.
The journey for Goliath Wa Bungoma began early this year when a video of him struggling to pronounce “suspension” and “transmission” while describing a vehicle went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Kenyans turned the clip into memes, with many insisting the soft-spoken salesman had no place in the competitive Nairobi used-car market along Ngong Road.
Instead of retreating, Goliath Wa Bungoma doubled down. He posted daily videos explaining car features in his distinctive village-accented Sheng, slowly building a loyal following that appreciated his honesty and humour.
The same audience that once laughed at him became his biggest customers, with several buyers travelling from as far as Kisumu and Eldoret specifically to purchase vehicles from the young man they now affectionately call “Boss Goliath”.
The breakthrough KSh 9.5M Prado sale happened last week when a Nairobi-based contractor walked into the yard looking for a high-end diesel SUV. After a 40-minute test drive and negotiation handled entirely by Goliath, the client signed the papers and drove off in the pearl-white Prado VXL.
The dealership principal confirmed the KSh 500,000 commission was paid instantly into Goliath’s account, marking his highest single payout to date.
Speaking from the car yard on Sunday afternoon, an emotional Goliath Wa Bungoma revealed his immediate plans for the money. “First, I am sending my mother KSh 2 million to start building a proper house in Kimilili. The rest will buy materials and pay workers. I want to prove to everyone who said I should go back to the village that the village is now coming to the city,” he said while showing journalists transfer screenshots on his phone.
His employer, who only identified himself as Mr Patel, praised the young salesman’s work ethic. “Many experienced brokers here earn less because they chase small deals. Goliath focuses on high-value customers who trust him. This Prado commission is just the beginning,” Patel told reporters.
Several local celebrities, including comedian Flaqo and musician Trio Mio, posted congratulatory messages, while more car dealerships in Mombasa and Nakuru have already reached out offering better packages.
At the village, locals are planning a hero’s welcome once the house construction begins early next year. “We always knew this boy had something special. Those who laughed at his accent forgot that customers buy trust, not pronunciation,” said retired teacher Moses Simiyu, a neighbour of the family.
From being the butt of national jokes to earning life-changing money in under six months, the rise of Goliath Wa Bungoma has become the ultimate Kenyan underdog story of 2025. The young broker says he now aims to hit KSh 2 million in monthly commissions by mid-next year and eventually open his own dealership in Bungoma town.
As construction machines are expected to roll into his rural homestead before Christmas, one thing is clear: the village boy who was told to go home has instead brought the city money back home, one Prado at a time.
