darkpella    Jun 2, 2015

Dear Mr. Muchai, I could not refrain from noticing you're last 4 repayments are overdue since a year.
May you please update us about your business situation and repayment plans, if any?

Best regards

DocHolliday    Jan 17, 2015

Hello, are you all right? You have missed your last four repayments. I hope that you are well.

DocHolliday    Jul 8, 2014

Hello, I hope that you and your family are well. Thank-you for your most recent repayment. It would be nice to read about your progress in business if you have the time.

DocHolliday    Jul 8, 2014

Thank-you for continuing with your repayments. When you have the time, it would be nice to read from you how your business is progressing further. Thanks.

DocHolliday    Jun 14, 2014

Thank-you for your continued repayments - have you been able to purchase all the grains that you wanted? Are your customers happy? I hope that you are well.

DocHolliday    May 14, 2014

Thank-you for making your first repayment!

Kibiru    Apr 23, 2014

dear lenders am so happy to hear from you. my business is doing so well, and my family is in a good health. its my pleasure to have my fourth loan being on the process to be funded. thanks so much while filling up my bids. may GOD bless you

• DocHolliday    May 2, 2014

  Hello Mr. Muchai, I'm glad to learn that your fourth loan has now been funded, please do let us know how your business progresses. Thank-you.

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mewesten    Oct 12, 2013

Dear Mr Muchai,
Were you able to buy a maize huller for your mill using you Zidisha loan?
I welcome hearing more from you about you and your business.
Best to you.
Marvin

mewesten    Sep 11, 2013

Dear Mr Muchai,
I wanted to let you know that your second payment arrived today. Thank you for that.
I'm sorry that I am so late in contacting you.
Were you able to buy a maize huller for your mill using you Zidisha loan?

I welcome hearing more from you about your business and events in your life.
Best of luck to you.
Sincerely,
Marvin (Zidisha lender)

traciyoshiyama    Aug 21, 2012

July 19, 2012

Hello, my name is Traci Yoshiyama, Zidisha’s Kenya Client Relationship Manager. I am currently residing in Mugaa, visiting Zidisha borrowers in nearby villages.

As word spread of my recent arrival in Kenya, many Zidisha borrowers took it into their own hands to seek me out for a visit. One such individual was Patrick Muchai, fellow colleague and confidant of Nicholas Munyua. As I rode down the pitch-black road with Nicholas to Mr. Muchai’s establishment, I see a lone figure, presumably Mr. Muchai, waiting patiently for our arrival in the chilly Kenyan night. Despite our embarrassingly late appearance (almost 2 hours late), Mr. Muchai, several of his employees, and his wife greet us with a very warm, “Karibu sana.”

Mr. Muchai’s establishment is one of the only lit shops in this nondescript town. Well stocked, the walls of his business are lined with piles of 90kg bags of unga (maize flour), various types of machinery to produce unga, quart-sized bags of unga baridi (fine maize flour for infants), and a slightly out of place motorbike (which I later learn is for unga transport). Unga, when mixed with water, makes ugali, or as many Kenyans refer to jokingly as Kenyan cake for its deceiving resemblance. Being the staple food for many in Kenya, it came as no surprise to Mr. Muchai that this business was profitable.

It all began with a very small posho mill, only capable of producing two bags of unga per day. With the help of two Zidisha loans and Teachers Cooperative Society, Mr. Muchai was able to purchase a bigger posho mill, now allowing for the production of eight bags a day. In addition to a bigger mill, the loans have helped Mr. Muchai obtain a sifter, which is needed to separate the healthy maize from the kernels that did not receive a sufficient amount of nutrients. It is this very reason that Mr. Muchai’s unga is preferable over others. Although there are five similar businesses in this small village, Mr. Muchai’s unga is known as the best. Nicholas Munyua confirms this testament, buying a bag that evening to sell in his general store.

After receiving my first lesson in the art of unga-making and completing the much anticipated photo shoot of Mr. Muchai, his wife, and his employees (who all stayed past business hours for this very reason), Mr. Muchai proves once more to be a vested Zidisha representative. Through his inquiries, it is made obvious that Mr. Muchai’s main objective is not only to receive loans, but to learn from others, from borrowers with similar professions to lenders who have different perspectives on a business approach. These exchanges of knowledge further prove the benefits of Zidisha and the overall impact it can have on members.

• mewesten    Sep 11, 2013

  Dear Mr Yoshiyama,
  Thank you for the update on Mr Muchai and all the detail about his business activities. I appreciate hearing about it.
  Wish I could be there with you!
  Marvin (lender)

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Kibiru    Jun 18, 2012

Thanx to all zidisha lenders for your support, may you keep up with the same spirit of assisting small enterpreneurs grow.

• L

  ldworld    Jul 18, 2013

  God bless you in your business!!

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Kibiru    Jun 7, 2012

A lot of gratitude to Sarah Joy and Monroe for ua donations. I would like to request zidisha lenders to pliz support me before the prices of commodities go up so that i can make substantial profit. Thak you all in advance. I know you will support me.

Kibiru    Apr 18, 2011

I really do appreciate your help. pliz keep supporting me . i will pay the amount in due time. now i can comfortably supply maize to my poshomill. thank you

Kibiru    Mar 29, 2011

Am still waiting for all zidisha members to assit me. Especially now that the price of maize is going up. I need to buy maize at this moment before the prices rise too high.