Top 10 inspiring kenyan entrepreneurs

Are you an entrepreneur or a businessperson? Unfortunately many don't differentiate between the two. According to scholars there are different definitions of entrepreneurship,however in my case I am viewing it from the perspective of coming up with an innovation and the willingness to take risk when those around say it can't be done. The the ability to look at things and believe it can be done better,being persistent when others would likely give up.

For any country to achieve its development goals it should be backed by people who think outside the box,to come up with innovation and ideas that in turn generates job opportunities. We all acknowledge that Kenya is endowed with such individuals.
 Hereby is my list of the inspiring entrepreneurs, some of whom have established business empires worth million of dollars that have not only generated huge revenues and jobs for Kenyans but have also revolutionized  the way to do business in this country.

Mike Macharia – Founder and Group CEO, Seven Seas Technologies (SST)

At the age of 25 Michael Macharia founded SST, a provider of integrated business and technology solutions across Africa in the financial, telecoms, real estate and service industries.

The firm, which started in 1999, today has operations in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. SST has landed several significant deals across the continent. These include last year’s US$700,000 contract to design, install and commission an ultra-modern data centre for Ethiopia’s Bank of Abyssinia and a recent $5.6 million contract to upgrade business information systems hardware for the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO).

Kenya’s leading telecommunications company Safaricom has shown interest in acquiring a controlling stake in SST.


 Ken Njoroge – Co-founder and CEO, Cellulant

Ken Njoroge quit his studies in pharmacy opting for a degree in information systems management. At 23 he teamed up with two friends and started 3mice, a web development firm. Together with a Nigerian friend Bolaji Akinboro, Njoroge later co-founded Cellulant, a mobile commerce company that manages, delivers and bills for digital content and commerce services actualized over telecom networks.

“Founded in 2004 on about $3,000, and a credit card, the vision of Cellulant’s founders was to create a Fortune 500 company in Africa, out of Africa and by Africans,” reads a statement on the Cellulant’s website.

Nigeria’s federal government recently awarded Cellulant, which already has a presence in eight countries across the continent, a four-year $8.9 million contract to run an e-mobile registration and validation system for subsidized fertilizer.

 Kamal Budhabhatti – Founder and CEO, Craft Silicon

Kamal Budhabhatti grew up in India. The science graduate later moved to Kenya and in 2000 started Craft Silicon Limited, a provider of software solutions to financial and insurance institutions in more than 40 countries.

Budhabhatti has previously told reporters that he would like to have Craft Silicon listed either on the London or New York stock exchanges. The BBC and Forbes have both compared the soft-spoken software guru with Microsoft’s billionaire founder Bill Gates.

Craft Silicon won the $100,000 grand prize at the 2010 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship. The firm was feted for being both innovative and inspirational.

TABITHA KARANJA-founder and CEO,Keroche breweries

According to Tabitha, the journey has been rough and turbulent since 1997 when she ventured into the wine industry. For over 12 years, Tabitha fought a lone battle with giant multinationals in the fortified wines industry.

Keroche Breweries, based in Naivasha, has 100 employees, and engages hundreds others in the distribution network. Thanks to the distribution and retail networks built when she specialized in fortified wines. Keroche enjoys a national network, which she hopes to strengthen with the entry of the beer.

The company has invested one billion shillings in the new plant built by Italian and German engineers. It has a capacity of 6,000 half-litre bottles per hour. 

 JAMES MWANGI-C.E.O Equity Bank

 Equity Bank is the largest bank by customer base in East and Central Africa and the largest African majority owned company in the region. The bank has more than seven million accounts representing over half of all bank accounts in Kenya. It also has operations in Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Dr. James Mwangi has been pivotal in the transformation of Equity Bank from a failing micro-finance institution to a publicly listed commercial bank. He has also driven the bank's aim to transform the lives and livelihoods of people socially and economically by giving them access to modern, inclusive financial services that maximize their opportunities.

The bank is rated the biggest by customer base and African majority owned company in East and Central Africa.James has been pivotal in the bank's investment in a robust IT platform that can accommodate 35 million accounts, as well as a level four data center -- the only one of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa -- giving Equity a lead in creating synergy between banking and mobile telephones. Other innovations include Mkesho, the world's first mobile centric bank account, Orange Money, a mobile money transfer platform for Orange Telecom subscribers, and agency banking.

He is the winner of Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012.

Naushad Merali-Chairman sameer Group

In 2000, the Kenyan-Asian tycoon partnered with French media giant Vivendi to found Kencell, a Kenyan mobile phone service provider, which he later sold off to Celtel and Bharti Airtel. He still owns 5% of Bharti Airtelâ's operations in Kenya, and serves as chairman of the board. But the bulk of his power and fortune comes from his ownership of one of East Africa's largest conglomerates- the $2 billion (Annual turnover) eponymous Sameer Group which owns some of the most popular companies in the Kenya's financial services, construction, agriculture, energy and ICT sectors. Merali is chairman of the group. His son, Sameer Merali is the heir apparently.

 

JOANNE MWANGI-C.E.O and founder,P.M.S

Though she stumbled into business 13 years ago, Joanne Mwangi has proved to be a successful entrepreneur. The numerous awards she has won over the years are testament to her entrepreneurial skills and spirit.
Joanne Mwangi is the founder of Professional Marketing Services (PMS) Limited, an experiential marketing agency. The PMS Group offers services in advertising, public relations, event management, trade promotions, consumer promotions, trade merchandising and Marketing strategy development.
According to Mwangi, the firm, which started as a small outfit providing merchandising activities, has evolved into Professional Marketing Services Group of companies (PMS Group) providing a wide range of services to a myriad of clients,” she says.

CHRIS KIRUBI-chairman Capital Group

Mr.  Chris Kirubi got an early start buying up small, dilapidated residential and commercial real estate in Nairobi, then renovated the properties and flipped them for a profit. He now owns Nairobi's landmark International House building, one of the city's longest standing and most prestigious commercial properties, as well as several other commercial and residential buildings in Nairobi. Other assets include a 49% stake in Haco Tiger Industries, which manufactures consumer products; a controlling stake in Centum, a Nairobi Stock Exchange-listed private equity firm; UAP Insurance, one of Kenya's largest insurance companies and Sandvik East Africa, a Kenyan construction firm. Also owns the DHL Franchise in Kenya, and Capital FM, Kenya's most popular radio station. Devout disciple of social media keeps active Twitter and Facebook accounts. 

MANU CHANDARIA-CEO Comcraft

 The Kenyan industrialist is the chairman of Comcraft group, a $2.5 billion industrial conglomerate his father founded over 80 years ago. The group produces steel, plastics, and aluminium products from its manufacturing facilities in 16 African countries and employs a workforce of over 40,000 people in 45 countries on five continents. The reputable philanthropist has given millions to education and health causes in Kenya. Recently, he funded the creation of the Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre at Kenyatta University to provide seed funding and mentor ship to student entrepreneurs at the institution. The shareholding of the Comcraft group is believed to be spread through dozens of family members, which is why Manu Chandaria did not make our list this year and is unlikely to do so in the future.

NJERI RIONGE-Co-founder Wanainchionline

  Rionge has co-founded multi-million dollar companies in quick succession. She co-founded Wananchi Online, a leading Internet service provider which has gone on to become East Africa’s leading cable, broadband and IP (Internet-based) phone company. Wananchi has become immensely successful, so much that it has raised close to $60 million in growth capital from a consortium private equity firms. She also founded Ignite Consulting, a thriving business consultancy; Business Lounge, Kenya’s leading start up incubator; Ignite Lifestyle, a health care consultancy; and Insite, one of Kenya’s most successful digital marketing outfits. She now divides her time between homes in Nairobi and Toronto where she runs her diverse business concerns.

OTHERS INCLUDE:

ATUL SHAH-Nakumatt Holdings Managing Director

Peter muraya- CEO and founder,Suraya properties group

Rabar Brothers of Homeboyz

David kuria founder Iko Toilets

I must acknowledge that i have not covered everyone and there are many more Kenyan entrepreneurs,your contribution is highly appreciated

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