The world is your oyster, you just need to find the pearls. This is a common saying from one of Shakespeare’s plays that suggests the unlimited opportunities and bright future that lay ahead in a person’s life.
Frank Kamau Muchiri is the founder of Reisen Tours and Travel Company. He is among the hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs who have given life to the said inspirational quote.
When he completed his KCPE exams at Dandora Primary in 2004, Frank was nowhere near the top students in the nation. He scored 265 marks in his papers, but this didn’t prevent him from the future that he envisioned.
“I went to Dandora Primary School and completed my KCPE in the year 2004 and obtained 265 marks,” he said while speaking to a media correspondent.
Frank Muchiri then joined Ngurwe-ini Secondary School in Murang’a County. Here, he began his academic transformational steps and was among the top students in Kenya in his year’s KCSE cohort. From grass to grace indeed.
“I got a mean grade of A-. I went to Kimathi University and I did my undergraduate in computer science,” he narrated.
After school, he joined the millions of Kenyans who pursued academic writing as a means of earning income. He managed to save up to Sh. 2 million from this work, which he used to establish his business.
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Today, Muchiri is the Director & CEO of his tours and travel company which he started in 2023. He shared that he was inspired to venture into this line due to a variety of factors ranging fro personal interests, values and a vision for travellers.
“The initial capital I started with is Sh. 2.1 million which I used to buy a tour van but I’m still planning to invest more in the business,” he said.
As is the norm, Muchiri faced a couple of challenges while building his business. However, the most notable ones are market saturation, brand awareness and financial management.
Muchiri said that it takes some time before one can harvest any profits from a tours and travel business. For this reason, an entrepreneur need to be patient.
“Effective financial management and budgeting are crucial for sustainability and I recognise the importance of navigating through these financial challenges. A strong online presence is crucial for success and I am actively working on developing these aspects for my tourism business.”
Speaking on the change in the field, Muchiri noted that technology has revolutionised the sector with many more customers embracing online travel platforms and booking systems to make payments.
“We’re currently developing a tour app to provide real-time information, interactive maps and features that enhance the overall travel experience for users,” he said.