Blaze Season 2: the show that brought out entrepreneurship in Kenyan youth

The second season of BLAZE B.Y.O.B. TV Show came to a dramatic end on Sunday evening, with Brian Rono walking away with the grand prize following 10 weeks of intense competition.

Rono, a 25-year old potato farmer and actuary from Lembus, Baringo County, beat 11 other contestants to emerge the last boss standing.

Throughout the competition he stood out for his leadership and no-nonsense attitude, giving viewers a glimpse into the tenacity that saw him overcome a challenging childhood and financial constraints to graduate from university and set up his own business.

The KES 5 million grand prize package consists of KES 3 million in cash and the remainder in business support from Safaricom, which Rono says he intends to invest in his farm and use to expand his investment portfolio so as to diversify his sources of income.

“I am beyond overwhelmed right now. I came in with nothing but a desire to show my grit and win this money, because I know what I’m capable of achieving. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to interact with strong, ambitious, young people; to learn from them and grow with them. Being chosen out of a group of 12 strong contestants is a very humbling experience,” said Rono.

In second and third place were beef farmer Monica Nyawira and budding public relations and marketing consultant Daisy Wanzala, who won KES 1 million and KES 700,000 respectively. Babra Chege, who was evicted in episode 5, won the KES 500,000 Fan’s Choice award after garnering 9,090 out of over 32,000 votes cast through Shake & Vote on mySafaricom app.

The second season of the BYOB TV show aired exclusively on KTN between 5^th February and 15^thApril, pitting contestants against each other in a reality TV-style competition in which each was required to show G.R.I.T: an acronym for Greatness Requires Internal Toughness.

At its peak the show was watched by 1.2 million people, with an average of 800,000 viewers per episode. Viewers from all over the country tuned in every Monday evening to watch the contestants navigate their way through an assortment of challenges with the aim of proving their grit, endearing themselves to the judges – Caroline Mutoko, entrepreneur Trushar Khetia, rapper and businessman King Kaka – and walking away with the ultimate prize.

“Not only did the contestants prove to audiences that young people have the willingness to work hard for what they believe in, they also stood out as role models for millions of Kenyan youth who are passionate about pursuing unconventional careers,” said Charles Wanjohi, Head of Consumer Segments – Safaricom.

“The show is not just about entertainment; it is preparation for the real world of business, and Rono, Monica and Daisy proved to be the toughest of the 12,” said Mr. Wanjohi.

Safaricom launched its youth network BLAZE in 2016 with the aim of providing relevant products and services to Kenyans under the age of 26 years. A sub-brand of Safaricom, BLAZE was founded on what Kenyan youth say is most important to them: freedom, empowerment and success.