Evans Anyona Nyagaka is a seasoned Kisii tycoon who has dominated the transportation industry in Kenya.
He has achieved this through years of experience, significant financial resources, and investments worth millions.
Anyona’s story is inspiring, to say the least, as he rose from being a school dropout to one of the country’s mogul executives in the transportation industry.
This proves that education is not the only factor determining success in life.
He is the founder of Transline Classic and ENA Coach transportation services. His fleet of vehicles plies long-distance routes.
Transline was established in 2005, while ENA was launched in 2008. ENA is an abbreviation for Evans Nyagaka Anyona.
His journey to the pinnacle is marked by hard work and persistence, and his success is a testament to the power of determination.
Here is his story by biznakenya:
Early life
The charismatic Evans Anyona was born in 1968, making him 55 years old as of 2023. He hails from a poverty-stricken home in Riabigutu village, Kisii County but with enough love, care and protection.
A single mother raised Evans after his dad succumbed when he was in class 6.
Anyona’s mother struggled to ensure his son completed his O-levels, which he did at Masimba Secondary School. This marked the end of the tycoon’s education.
1992 Famine
Anyona’s breakthrough came in 1992 when a severe drought hit Kenya. He saw this as an opportunity to earn profits as the demand for food was high.
Just before the drought hit hard, he bought maize at Sh. 7 per tin and true to his predictions, the ensuing drought saw maize prices skyrocket to Sh. 35 per tin.
A businessman at heart, the young Anyona would reap good profits from his hustle.
Whooping profits of over 400 per cent turned Anyona from the status of a hustler to a serial investor. The 1992 famine left Anyona richer and with an appetite for more business opportunities.
After the famine, he became a chicken farmer. Unsurprisingly, Anyona already had a ready market for his eggs and hens at Masimba market.
With the proceeds from his business, Anyona established a shop that eventually evolved into a wholesale enterprise. He left the wholesale shop to his wife’s custody as he returned to the farms.
Anyona was among the pioneers of pyrethrum brokerage in Kenya. He would buy pyrethrum from farmers and sell it to the PBK, earning him profits.
Pyrethrum was a gold mine when Anyona was a middleman.
Founding Transline Classic
Under his uncle’s guidance, in 2002, Anyona purchased his first pickup truck for his business, a Mitsubishi. He modified it to a ‘seven aside’ matatu.
With the business flourishing, Evans Anyona bought 3 more ‘face-me’ pickups. Thereafter, he transitioned to the modern Nissan and Toyota models.
Anyona started to become a visionary for the transport industry. In 2005, he partnered with 2 close friends and they established Transline Ltd. They were James Bichange and Haron Kamau.
The newly formed company secured their first three buses by obtaining a loan from Equity Bank. Evans Anyona’s business empire boomed. His business partners contributed matatus that they operated as a unit.
In 2010, the luxurious Transline Classic separated from its parent company, Transline. In the same year, the company bought their first 11-seater shuttle.
As of 2012, the company had expanded significantly, with 24 buses serving the coastal and lake regions.
Within months, Transline Classic Sacco had attracted more investors who added more Transline Classic buses to the fleet, filling them to capacity in no time.
The loans secured from Equity Bank were also helpful in the branding process. Stanbic Asset Finance solution also played a huge role.
Establishing ENA Coach
In a recent interview with KTN Home Television, Richard Mogire – CEO of ENA Coach, revealed that ENA Investment Limited was under Transline Classic between 2008 and 2018.
In 2018, ENA Coaches split to become a separate entity chaired by Evans Nyagaka Anyona. He is still the major stakeholder in the company.
Ena Coach places a high value on providing exceptional service to its customers while also giving them a luxurious experience as a reward.
In essence, the vision of Ena Coach includes classy services and premium customer service.
Due to his significant role in the Kisii transportation business, Evans Anyona holds major shares in many of the matatu Saccos in the area.
Transline Classic has a fleet of over 80 buses and 11-seater shuttles.
They come equipped with various features such as television services, free Wi-Fi, a music system, charging ports on every seat, air conditioning, and adjustable seats.
Routes plied
As mentioned earlier, Nyagaka envisioned his vehicle fleet traversing long-distance routes. Here is a list of all routes that the vehicles travel to:
- Nairobi to Kisii
- Nairobi to Kisumu
- Nairobi to Busia
- Nairobi to Bungoma
- Nairobi to Kakamega
- Kisii to Migori
- Nairobi to Eldoret
- Nairobi to Kitale
- Nairobi to Mombasa
Fare prices range from Sh. 800 and Sh. 1000. However, during peak seasons, prices can increase to between Sh. 1500 and Sh. 2000.
Bookings are done through their offices located at Afya Centre or online through their website. Click here to book.