In Nairobi, there are only a few entrepreneurs whose official net worth is over Sh. 1 billion. Among the latest of these is the dynamic duo who founded Bonfire Adventures, Simon and Sarah Kabu, popularly known as the Kabus.

The Kabus have officially become billionaires through their tours and travel business, earning the prestigious title of perhaps the first well known modern success story of grass to grace. And the icing on the cake is that their new status is not through theft of public coffers.

In a video with renowned YouTuber Wode Maya, the power couple unveiled their entry into the exclusive league of accomplished individuals.

“We thank God that we are now in the billionaire’s club officially,” Mrs Kabu, who works as the Managing Director at Bonfire, stated.

The pair have become an inspiration to many couples pursuing businesses together. They attribute their success to hard work, commitment to the cause and determination.

With their shared vision, the company had a turnover of over a billion Kenyan shillings and created over 200 job opportunities in the last year.

Not only did they improve the lives of numerous Kenyans, but they also managed to improve the tourism sector in Kenya after a ravaging hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the interview, the Kabus disclosed that success is not spontaneous, as they have had to wait for 15 years for them to be where they are right now. (Billionaires). 

“There are many families that actually depend on us. That makes us wake up every morning thinking somebody somewhere depends on us. So I cannot sleep knowing that a kid will not go to school if I do not work hard or smart,” Simon Kabu stated.

Furthermore, they mentioned that opening and successfully guiding their travel agency to the epitome of success hasn’t been a walk in the park.

“I have realized many people want to live my life, but if you tell them the work they need to put in, the sacrifice it takes to achieve those dreams, they are not ready,” Mrs. Kabu said.

The couple shared that, thanks to their dedicated team, they have successfully manoeuvred through the challenging landscapes of the hospitality and tourism industry.

Established in 2008, Bonfire Adventures has been on the end of receiving numerous awards, both local and international. Armed with Sh. 10,000 capital, the company rented office space in Nairobi and has scaled to have several branches spread out in Kenya.

“So far, we have 10 branches in the country, 8 within Nairobi, 2 outside Nairobi. Plans of going international are in the works,” Sarah Kabu mentioned.

It was named Africa and Kenya’s leading Travel Agency in 2018 at the World Travel Awards in South Africa.

Over the years, the tour company has claimed some awards, including Top 100 Midsized Company, Company with the Best Use of Social Media and Kenya Leading Company on Honeymoons.

Simon Kabu attributes all their success to their exceptional team of employees, with his wife playing a pivotal leadership role.

Simon Kabu: How we built Bonfire from scratch to multi-million empire

In addition, the couple encourages tour companies to think beyond the conventional “bush and beach” safaris and explore innovative approaches to design their products.

As a parting shot, Simon Kabu advised the young generation to lead peaceful, humble lives in this digital era. He opined that whatever one does these days, even if its being inactive, there’s always someone who is watching.

“The internet never forgets. Like when we are doing interviews, we have to do background checks on social media. If you are those people who abuse on social media, however good you are, you cannot fit into our core values,” he divulged.

“Do you know an email can make you lose an opportunity? If your email is [email protected], I’d think you’re not serious. If your social media picture is an avatar, not a picture, or your name is, for example ‘Lucy Lucy’, I might not take you seriously too.”