My names are Fred Kimiti and am 36 years old. I attended junior school at Kenyatta Primary school in Kenya, Nakuru town. I later joined Nakuru day secondary school and after that I attended a course in water technology for two years, and another course in marketing.

I now have a wife and three children, I still live in Nakuru town at a place called Free Area, my hobbies include jogging and reading story books.

Nakuru is a town with a globally famous lake where tourists come to watch birds , especially the birds called flamingos which have a unique pink color. As a child, I always loved events where I could be around people so I wished to start a business that would connect me daily with people.

I'm a leader of men's fellowship in our church and I greatly enjoy being around their company and learning things from them. To top up my duty in the church, I am currently a student of music, learning how to play piano and the saxophone. During my free time I like being around young children and the youth so that I can keep up with the generational change and also mentor them.

My business involves providing tents and chairs for hire to people having events. As I said, I love events. Now I have three tents, one can host one hundred people while the other two can host fifty people each. The tent which hosts 100 people is hired for $27.17 (Ksh 2,700) per day while the one that hosts 50 people is hired for $16.70 (Ksh 1,600). I usually subcontract two casual workers to assist in arranging the chairs and erecting the tents. One person is paid $5.60 (approx. Ksh 560) for a days work.

I am planning to start making my own tents and sell them out to people as well as increase the number I have so I can meet the demand. A tent for 100 seats would go for $869.56(approx. Ksh 87,000) and the one that holds 50 seats would cost $543(approx. 54,500).

My main aim is to employ more youth into my business and do some helpful projects for my community especially. The project I would wish to do for my community is later is to unite them into raising funds to make a borehole where I would contribute generously.

Transportation if tents to their destination still remains to be a challenge, in some places the roads are so rough and transport providers tend to be expensive. Although I have always believed that every business comes with a challenge(s). I have a pleasure to relate with other business men and women at zidisha team and together we shall work for the betterment of our future generations to come.

When my children grow up they will have a business to inherit, but those who will want to divert and do some different business or job, then my events business will be able to fund them on their course of duty. My last born daughter loves events just like her daddy and this makes me proud, I have always wished her the best if she was to take over the family business as a manager or start one on her own. Good luck and success to my business.

I'll use my loan to increase the number of tents and chair in order to meet the rising demand in the market. Chairs will be my first priority followed by tents then later I may think of a good public address system for speech sound and entertainment. The cost of chairs and tents will be as follows:-

Chairs 50 pcs $11 each Total $550 (approx. Ksh 55,000)

Tents 2 pcs $500 each Total $1000 (approx. Ksh 100,000)

Total $1550 (approx. Ksh 155,000)

This will help me to employ more youth and catch up with the demand that is there in the market. It will help me to contribute more to the community and in my church. As my business improves, I believe the standard of living for my family and my employees will also improve tremendously. I highly believe that one day the living standard of most people in my community will rise, that everyone will afford piped water and electricity but especially enough and quality food to feed our families.

I expect my profit to increase tremendously and my business to gain a good pace in growth. My profits will rise from $280 to $380 even if it will be gradual. I am sure it will grow as my customers continue realizing the growth of my products.

I thank all those who have given me hope to continue and all those who will continue giving me hope in the future.

Thank you.