Being a hawker is never an easy job. Their typical day begins very early in the morning. They walk around with their wares, braving the cold, scorching heat and sometimes even the heavy rains.
The hardest part of the job description is convincing potential customers to buy the products; lest all hard work, perseverance and determination is all in vain.
This was the life of multi-millionaire Simon Wachira before he hit the jackpot with his business dealings. Simon Wachira is a living testament that our past does not define us.
He started as a hawker and now he is the owner of the retail chain store, Magunas Supermarket. With hard work and determination, Simon was able to realize his dreams.
Despite facing numerous challenges in his earlier life, he persevered and achieved greatness.
Born in Kiburu village, between Kirinyanga and Nyeri, Wachira later relocated to Murang’a.
In the 1980s, Simon Wachira worked in the Mukuyu market as a hawker. With the little earnings he got, Wachira was able to save money. With his savings and a loan he secured, Wachira established a modest grocery shop.
Wachira did not stop dreaming and his ambitions grew beyond just owning the shop. With the increasing popularity of his store, Simon Wachira went on to establish Maguna Andu Wholesalers.
This eventually led to the birth of the famed Magunas Supermarket.
Magunas Supermarket
Magunas Supermarket is available in over five counties in Kenya. This makes Simon Wachira among the richest people from the Mt. Kenya region.
His store competes with well-established and funded chains such as Quickmart and Naivas.
His supermarkets strive to offer customers a unique and exceptional shopping experience. Customers always seek quality products at reasonable prices.
Simon Wachira’s first Maguna outlet was in the Kwa Maji area (now Magunas Stage). He has expanded his business to Nyeri, Meru, Kitui and Nairobi.
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He has several branches in Nairobi, each of them strategically located to meet customer convenience. They are in Kahawa Wendani (along Thika Road) and in Utawala.
Simon Wachira commissioned the Kitui branch in 2016, ending the monopoly of Naivas Supermarket in the area. This shows how good he is at identifying a market gap and acquiring the resources to fill it.
Nokras Riverine Sagana
Murang’a County is among the counties blessed to have the most inland tourist attractions. Simon Wachira realized that the hospitality industry in the county was not at its peak.
In this gap, Wachira decided to establish his own facility, Nokras Riverine Hotel that will serve the tourists in Murang’a County.
Nestled on the banks of River Sagana, known for its water sports activities, the hotel offers 60+ rooms, and 29 cottages categorized as Simba, twiga, kifaru, kiboko and river sight.
Guests staying at the cottages enjoy a private swimming pool, lounge and kids’ play area. Every room is equipped with high-speed internet to enhance guests’ convenience.
Philanthropic Works
Additionally, he is recognized for his philanthropy towards the community, evident when he donated a truck full of food to a Catholic church in Murang’a during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simon Wachira worships at St. Joseph The Worker Mumbi Catholic Church. According to the church faithful, he rarely misses services.
“Unless he is out of town, he never misses church service. He is a down-to-earth man who participates in church and community activities,” said James Mwangi, a church member.
