I am a 47 Year old Kenyan Lady. I am originally from Western Province but I live and Work in Nairobi. I studied at Tigoi Girls high School and Later went to Kisii Secretarial College. I am also a trained cook. After training, I worked at Shell petrol Station, Kisumu as a pump attendant. I later joined Total Petrol, Kapsabet in the Same Capacity. I then transferred to Total Kenya, Uganda road Eldoret as an Accounts clerk. After Leaving Total, i started a personal Business in which I deal in African Print garments called Kangas (A Famous form of dress in East Africa) and Women's wear. I love my business. I always look for means and ways to make it better. I am a hard-working and focused individual, with personal ambitions and goals to develop myself and at the same help the society that supports me.

The main focus of my business is dealing in Kangas. These are a form of dressing garb famous in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Somalia. It's an African Imprinted garment that is used to sew dresses, headscarves, skirts and other female clothing used by women allover East Africa. It is also famous in public functions for the messages that are commonly imprinted on them. I source my Kangas from Mombasa Kenya. Most of these Kangas are Manufactured in Tanzanian Textile factories and some Kenyan EPZ (Export Processing Zones) at the coast. I buy a bundle that constitutes 12 Kangas at Ksh. 5000. I then carry and sell each Kanga in Nairobi at between Ksh.500 and Ksh. 600 depending on the bargaining power of the client. Each bundle fetches up to Ksh.2000 profit (approximately 22 USD). To be able to comfortably clear the transport and utility bills that I incur on the journey of bringing the Kanga from Mombasa, i buy at least five bundles, which I clear in not more than six weeks. My intention for the future is to start sourcing the material directly from Tanzania and start selling to other places in Kenya like the Rift Valley, Nyanza , Western Provinces and Kampala Uganda. This is because Lesos promote an East African tradition that is appreciated across communities and religions in the region. The Kanga is intertwined with the History of the Swahili Speaking Region of East Africa and Eastern Congo. The appreciation of the Kanga in this region is high due to this factor. This creates the potential wide market for the business.

My Current Cloths sales business is doing good. The Lesos and Kangas are particularly doing great. I have identified them as the strength of the business. I have identified an MPesa (Mobile Transfer Money Services) dealer and would like to make a deposit for Ksh.30,000 (300 USD) Float and keep Ksh. 20,000 (200 USD)for cash transactions.I intend to use 8000 on Branding and Stationery. Many of my customers go to withdraw money from the MPesa Shop down the road before coming to pay for purchases. MPesa is preffered as a way to keep money because of security. I know that offering these services will help me get more income in the form of commisions and I will also be able to cut in on the MPesa customers who pass by my Duka to the Agent down the road. Having worked as an MPesa services issuer at an agency briefly, I project my commisions to get to not less than Ksh.15,000 (150 USD) and upto Ksh.25,000 (250 USD) per month which is a significant increase in revenue and I may need the services of my niece who just completed college. She can make some pocket money for the meanwhile as the service rolls out.