- Dorothy Mwihaki grew up in a humble background in Kiambu before her success in the US
- She was threatened by deportation from the US but marriage to an American saved her
- Her company provided essential services from hospice to palliative care to many in the United States
Dorothy Mwihaki, 61, has faced many hurdles in her life but facing deportation from the US traumatised her.
Originally from Kiambu, Dorothy has lived in the US for over 40 years after moving to seek the American dream at age 21.
The eldest child in a family of 7, Dorothy grew up in a humble background where getting even food was a struggle.
Nurse by profession
A trained nurse, Dorothy currently runs Progressive Home Health and Hospice as its executive director.
But reaching this point was not easy for her, she had to study day and night and even on weekends as education was the only hope for a better life.
After high school, her uncle secured her a job at Barclays Bank as a mail clerk but her dream was to go to America to pursue greener pastures.
The American dream
“I started thinking I need to get out of the country. I started applying for scholarships and got one at 21. I left Kenya for Texas, got a job where I used to make $3.85 per hour,” Dorothy Mwihaki said.
While in the US, Dorothy was approached by Department of State (DoS) officers who asked her to self-deport. Her only chance to remain in the US was now only through marriage.
Luckily she was dating an American citizen and he married her and thus the danger of deportation ended.
It’s through her nursing passion that has seen her make a success in the healthcare profession in the US.
From nursing, she moved to medical surgery later on establishing Progressive Homecare and Hospice which employs over 75 people.
The company provides such services as home care, palliative care, hospice, rehabilitation, and personal care.
