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Atwoli’s adopted daughter bags Sh5m in reality TV show – PHOTOS


The adopted daughter of Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli was on Sunday crowned winner of a local reality television show.

Nineteen year-old Valentine Nekesa, a student at Mount Kenya University, walked home with Sh5 million.

She became the first winner of BLAZE BYOB show and will get Sh3 million in capital, and Sh2 million in the form of mentorship, financial advice and business support.

FAMILY OF 13

Ms Nekesa grew up in a family of 13 with eight brothers and five sisters in Kakamega town before she was adopted by her uncle Francis Atwoli and his wife Roselinda after her mother passed away.

“I will invest part of the money on my fashion label VS Designs and the rest will save for future investments,” said Ms Nekesa.

PHOTO | COURTESY
PHOTO | COURTESY

Her adopted mother admitted that her daughter kept a low profile throughout the period of the show because she did not want people to know her relation to the Cotu boss.

“I knew my daughter had it in her to win because she is hardworking. She kept her identity hidden as she didn’t want people to discredit her because of her father’s name,” said Roselinda Simiyu Atwoli.

The show came to an end after eight weeks of intensive, real-life challenges where 12 contestants battled it out for the top prize.

BUSINESS IDEAS

Three contestants including Safe Joe, David Kimani and Valentine Nekesa qualified for the finals and were on Sunday evening tasked with pitching their business ideas to the judges.

Speaking to Nairobi News, Trushar Khetia, a judge at the show, said that no one was swayed by her connection to Mr Atwoli to crown her the winner.

“At first Nekesa was like everyone else in the show, but as the show progressed so did she, that is why she was crowned the winner,” said Khetia.