I would like to construct houses for renting at karunga centre where i own a plot. i have some other money set aside f...

KM    Apr 6, 2015

How are you? It would be nice to get a message about how things are going for you.

KM    Feb 22, 2015

It's been awhile since we've had news from you. Is there something wrong?

KM    Sep 2, 2014

It was great to get your August 20th repayment. Wishing you and your family the best of health.

KM    Jul 9, 2014

Thank-you for such a large repayment on June 6th. I hope that you are well. It would be best if you rescheduled your loan, so that you can make smaller payments regularly.

KM    May 29, 2014

Thank-you for your repayment efforts - how is everything going?

CZC    Mar 27, 2014

Mr. Kiragu,

I hope everything is well with you. I see you are nearly 2 weeks in arrears ($111). It's been a while since we've gotten any updates from you.

Can you please let your lenders know what your situation is right now and if you are facing any difficulties? We would also like to know when you will be resuming your payments. I would suggest you reschedule your loan so as not to further damage your on-time repayment score.

Thanks,
Cris

CZC    Mar 7, 2014

Mr. Kiragu,

How are things going for you? I see you have fallen behind in your repayments. Are you facing any particular problems in your business?

I would suggest you reschedule your loan so as not to damage your on-time repayment score any further. Please give your lenders an update on the situation. Lenders are usually very flexible and understanding as long as we are informed of any setbacks.



Thanks,
Cris

Elinor    Sep 16, 2013

Hello Mr. Kiragu

I am very happy to see everything is going well for you. I really appreciate your on-time repayments. I have been able to take the money you have repaid and loan it out to others.

eagle3    Jan 23, 2013

Congratulations on receiving your loan. I applaud your hard work and initiative to improve you and your family's situation in life. As a former farm boy, my self, I know just how important it is to upgrade your herd. I will be watching your progress withgreat interest. You have my best wishes for continued great success.

If you think you can -- You Can!

dcembrola    Nov 20, 2012

November 20, 2012

Hello, my name is Dan Cembrola, one of Zidisha’s Kenya Client Relationship Managers. I am currently visiting Zidisha borrowers in Nakuru and its outskirts.

At 70 years old, Joseph Kiragu is somewhat of an elder statesman of the village of Karunga. As I waited for him to meet me in the center of the village, passersby seemed impressed that I was waiting to meet with Mr. Kiragu. Having never met Joseph before, I did not fully understand their reaction. I was expecting the young man portrayed in his profile picture. Later on, the 70 year old Joseph would view this picture and smile looking at his younger self.

Joseph grew up in Naivasha, about two hours south of the village of Karunga. He began working as a mechanic with an Italian company that was working in the area in the 1960s. His love and knowledge of mechanics is evidenced by the Volkswagen van parked in his carport. Seeing as Joseph didn’t plan on following the Grateful Dead on their next US tour, he cut off the roof and removed the rear rows of seats converting his VW van into a pickup truck. He’s had the VW pickup truck for over 30 years, though it now has a Toyota engine that Joseph installed himself.

Joseph’s success in business over the years provided him with the opportunity to buy 15 acres of land in Karunga village. Unlike many farmers in this area, Joseph employs the three crop rotation agricultural strategy. He grows maize, wheat, and sunflowers. Only two of these crops are grown at a time, the third portion of his acreage is left fallow. After each crop is harvested, it is then planted in another portion of his land. This rotation helps to preserve the fertility of the soil. Each crop requires different nutrients from the soil, by rotating the planting of the crops Joseph is able to prevent any portion of the soil from becoming depleted of certain nutrients.

Describing Joseph’s 15 acres of land as a farm is to do it an injustice. It is more of a compound. He has two housing structures, storage sheds, stalls for his cattle, and a concrete water tank that is about 20 feet deep and 30 feet in diameter which is used to irrigate his land. One of the storage sheds contains a machine for milking his cows, one of which was purchased by his Zidisha loan. Another contains a machine he uses to grind animal feeds which he uses for his own livestock and also sells to his friends in the village.

Joseph also owns several acres of land which he rents at a generous rate to local farmers. In 1982, he constructed one of the main and largest concrete buildings in the town center. He has been renting this out to local businesses for the past 30 years. He has plans, which he hopes he can achieve with the assistance of Zidisha, to install a cooler capable of holding 5,000 liters of milk in a vacant portion of one of his buildings. If he is able to accomplish this, it will allow the citizens of Karunga to preserve the milk produced by their cattle enabling them to sell it to a much broader market. This will include more urban areas where they could earn 20-25 Kenyan Schillings more per liter. With the abundance of milk produced by the innumerable amount of cattle in this region, a cooler such as the one Joseph proposes could be transformative to the village economy.

Clearly not lacking in ambition or motivation, Joseph also plans to use a portion of the land he owns in the town center to construct another structure which he imagines could house Karunga’s first bank. At 70 years old, Joseph Kiragu is, and has been for some time, an exceptionally accomplished individual. His commitment and contribution to his village and country are utterly admirable and Zidisha is proud to have him as a client.

• M

  MWAURA    May 20, 2013

  I can assist him get market for his produce at the nearby Nakuru town.
  Kindly provide me with Joseph Kiragu's mobile number.
  My mobile: +254-733-789605

  

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Joseph    Mar 16, 2012

i thank the Zidisha team for giving me a loan i will make use of it to help my family and the surrounding community thanks once again may God bless you.