US-based Kenyan truck driver and social media personality Cosmo Choy has sparked conversation after comparing the earning potential of truck drivers in the United States with the salaries of professionals working in Kenya.
Choy, who has lived and worked in the US for several years, took to social media to highlight what he considers the significant difference between earnings abroad and those of highly trained professionals back home.
In his remarks, he challenged Kenyans to consider how much an American truck driver could potentially earn compared to people holding prestigious positions in Kenya.
“Do you know a truck driver in USA can pay 2 medical doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital and one high school principal,” Choy said on Tuesday, November 10,2026.
His statement drew attention to the earning power of blue-collar workers abroad, particularly in an industry where salaries are paid in US dollars.
How much do Kenyan doctors and principals earn?
Choy’s comparison comes against the backdrop of different salary structures for public servants in Kenya, with earnings determined by professional grade, experience and additional allowances.
Under the 2024 doctors’ return-to-work agreement, an entry-level doctor working at a referral hospital such as Kenyatta National Hospital was set to earn KSh413,785 monthly.
This means two doctors at that entry-level salary would collectively earn approximately Ksh827,570 per month.
Meanwhile, a secondary school principal in Grade D3 earns a basic monthly salary ranging between Ksh107,634 and Ksh131,405 under the Teachers Service Commission’s July 2026 salary review.
Combining the salaries of two entry-level referral hospital doctors and a principal would put their monthly basic and agreed remuneration comparison at approximately Ksh935,000 to Ksh959,000, before accounting for differences in allowances and deductions.
However, doctors’ earnings vary depending on their specialisation, experience, employer and deployment, while principals also receive additional allowances depending on their workstations.
Choy’s remarks on opportunities abroad
The social media personality’s remarks have highlighted the financial opportunities available to some Kenyans working overseas compared with those employed locally.
Truck drivers in the US can earn different amounts depending on their experience, employer, routes and working hours. Their actual take-home income also depends on taxes, insurance and other expenses.
Although Choy’s comparison does not establish that every truck driver in the US earns enough to match the combined salaries, it has brought renewed attention to the differences in earning potential between the two countries.