How Boda Boda helped me build my business empire
For those who grew up in 90’s early 2000 will agree with me that Boda Boda was the quickest means of transport especially in the rural areas. Most roads were inaccessible to motorists therefore the only means of transport here was the bicycle Boda Boda. During this time job opportunity were still available so many people did not mind about Boda Boda.
This gave those who saw employment opportunity in Boda Boda to take advantage and exploit the potential that was in it. For instance in Busia town it was commonly known for this business. At one time Busia town had a good number of Boda Boda operators this made people to believe that Boda Boda was a Luhya Affair.
Christian Ekai at the age of 17 years back in 1998 traveled to Kitale from Lokichar for the first time in search of a job. Upon reaching Trans-Nzoia he got a job in one of the retired army general’s home as a herdsman. Ekai said he used to earn ksh.600 per month and after working for four years he decided to quit the job. He had acquired enough money to buy a bicycle. He recalls buying his bicycle at Ksh. 3800.
“After working for 4yrs I decided to quit the job since I had acquired enough money to buy a bicycle, I wanted to do my own things. I wanted to have money at least every day. Though being a herdsman was not difficult to me considering where I come from. I wanted to meet new challenges” said Ekai
Bodaboda had so many challenges by then, people used to struggle while carrying people on hilly roads. But this did not hinder him from giving his job the best. Ekai had his own customers. Some could even pay him more than expected. While others used to pay him at the end of the month.
“I used to have people of all classes, for example some of my best clients were nurses, I used to have clients who worked in the district hospital this could pay me at the end of the month, while I had others who could pay me 50bob instead of the normal 20bob”
For 5years that Ekai was on the road he had managed to buy five bicycles, he also became employer. He could collect 100 bob everyday from his employees, Ekai says that on a good day He could work for 300bob so on such a day he could collect 700 bob.
There was nothing important like saving, savings really helped Ekai to go against all odds, he says he used to repair his bicycles every weekend on Saturdays, he also understands that he was the bread winner to his family back in Lokichar. Her siblings were still school going some in secondary and others in primary.
World do change and the coming of motorbikes around 2010 Ekai so it as an opportunity to learn how to operate a motorbike. After sometime he realized he also could afford having one with the help of a micro finance, he says by then he had 9 bicycles that he had given out.
“I acquired my first motorbike in 2010 with the help of a micro finance; it was not that difficult to service my loan since I had 9 bicycles on the road. During this time motorbikes were doing so well on the roads and I could make about Ksh. 1000 on a good day, when I was almost finishing paying my loan the branch manager asked me to apply for another loan so that I could purchase another motorbike I did not hesitate. Ekai recalls
He managed to transform his business from bicycle to motorbike with about 10 motorbikes he thought of something different. Ekai said by this time he was spending so much money on maintenance. He decided to open a motorbike spare part shop where he could also give service to others; this was his turning point in life.
From his motorbikes and spare part shop Ekai could make about Ksh. 6000 a day, as net profit. He therefore went for a loan to purchase a 14 seat Nissan that could play its trade on Kitale Kapenguria road. Slowly one after another he had his confidence in his bank as he walks on a journey of a thousand words.
Christian Ekai has today managed to concur his world where poverty was the order day, someone who never saw the doors of a classroom, but through his efforts his siblings are graduates now, some are helping him in his business as a way of giving back. He also acquired 5acre piece of land few kilometers away from the Kitale town, he is now married with to a graduate wife and together they have two children.
As Ekai enjoys the efforts he made to build his empire, it should be a lesson to many young people who believes money can only be made in big offices with big tittles, it’s not must that hung on your papers for years looking jobs that will never be. Instead take a chance that you believe you are good at and capitalize o