Business success stories can inspire,entertain,motivate and encourage.Ken is one of the many graduates who found themselves jobless even after struggling to attain university education.The entrepreneur shares his success story.
“I hail from a small village in Kiambu,I am the first born.I remember in 2000,I was admitted to Kenyatta University to pursue journalism. After four years,I became a graduate.
At that time I didn’t know life could take a totally different turn. With my degree certificate, I started running up and down,from one office to the other in a bid to secure a well-paying job.Days passed,moths elapsed and years went without any employer considering my application. After 5 years, I without a job and cash, I was forced to relocate to Kiambu.
In Kiambu,I faced stigma.I would walk in the street and hear even a madman say, “education nowadays is useless, look at this man, he has millions of degrees but he is here with us”. Despite the stigma, I continued to live and take care of our cows and goats.
Two years in the village, no cash,no motivation, I decided to return to the city to try my luck.I rented a single room in Kayole.I again started dropping my CV to any organization and media house I thought could employ me, but wapi,…no one was bothered to even look at my CV.I said enough is enough, and started hawking water along the streets of Nairobi.
I could buy one bbottle of water at Ksh 10 and sell it at Ksh20.But what I didn’t like about this business is that I learnt this water was not as clean as people think.Imagine we could buy empty bottles then fill them with tap water,put the water in a fridge overnight and sell the following day.I did the business for two years.
One day as I was running up and down,one of my friends told me..I was in city centre by then…to help him carry some luggage.I accepted.I schooled with him in Kiambu,so we had to discuss about life and the business.Here is where he revealed the secret of selling second hand clothes,and through his encouragement,I found myself into this business.
It’s now three years in the business,here in Gikomba,and I can tell you the business is good.I don’t even contemplate returning to white collar jobs.In a bad day,I make Ksh 5,000 and during festive season,Ksh15,000 is what I make per day.I regret wasting my time in school”.