Samuel Abisai became popular in Kenya after winning Sh221 million in a mega jackpot in 2017.
But despite the life-changing amount, Abisai has shared that he quickly realized it was not as much money as he initially thought.
In a recent interview on the POV Podcast with Cate Rira, Abisai opened up about how he has managed his wealth over the past seven years.
“After winning the cash, I discovered that the Sh221 million was not as much money as I had thought,” he admitted.
After the win, Abisai first bought a plane ticket and “I flew to Holland and met my best friend,”
Another thing Abisai did after winning was to change his phone number due to the overwhelming number of calls he received.
“I changed my number after I won the Sh221 million jackpot. The calls were just too many,” he explained.
He even received a call from a lady he schooled with in nursery, asking whether he remembered her.
Abisai’s approach to managing his windfall was strategic. He had a five-year plan in place before the win, and the jackpot helped him accelerate those plans.
“I initially had a five-year plan, so the money only helped accelerate my ideas and move the plan to the next step. I stuck to the goals I had set the previous year,” Abisai said.
Samuel Abisai Previous Wins
Contrary to what some might believe, Abisai did not see the win as pure luck.
He had experienced smaller wins before, which gave him confidence in the process.
“Before I won the Sh221 million, I had won Sh30k. I tried withdrawing Sh100k to see if it was legit, and when the money appeared in my account, I knew it was real,” he shared.
Over the years, Abisai has diversified his investments into several ventures, including a paint business, farming, and fashion.
His paint business specializes in car paints, and his clothing design company, which he owned before the win, continues to thrive.
“I’ve never faked my lifestyle or lived beyond my means,” he emphasized.
Abisai has also focused on helping his community. He started a pig farming project to support and empower women in his hometown.
“I receive tens of people advising me on how to spend my money, some of whom are unscrupulous,” he said, noting that even his relatives have been approached by people seeking assistance.
The win also caused initial friction within his family, especially regarding the distribution of funds.
Abisai, a father of two with eleven siblings, acknowledged, “There were issues, but now the family is stable, and the animosity is mostly external.”
Looking ahead, Abisai political interests. He plans to vie for a parliamentary position at Lugari Constituency in 2027.
By Vivian K.