My names are Pius Kimani Kariuki 30 years old from Kenya. I am married and blessed with two children, the first born is in primary class 1 and the last born is now 1 year old. I reside in Makongeni estate approximately 5 km east of Thika town. After completing college I got employment in gas filling station situated in Thika town as a supervisor for a period of 3 years. Later on I was employed in Pakimas Investment Company as a regional manager, the company deals with management of real estate and buying and selling of properties. I have worked for that company from 2010 to present. Through my salary I have been able to meet my family needs, paying school fees for my daughter and have started a small business which I have had plans to expand it if only I can have other source of money other than my salary only.

Through contributions from my salary I was able to start an Mpesa and mobile phones & accessories shop. The shop is situated at Gakui estate of Thika town that area is highly populated because of workers from coffee factories who live there and this leads to business competition. I purchase my stock direct from distributors at a lower price and this enables me sell them to my customers at a reasonable price. The profit margin rises as the sales rises.

Examples:-

1). I buy a Nokia 1200 series from distributor at $ 20 and sell it at $ 28 so I make a profit of $ 8. If I can have more capital it would enable me buy more phones and my profit margin would highly rise due to more sales I can make in a day.

2). Mpesa which Zidisha uses to disburse money to Kenya borrowers has become the largest money transfer in Kenya. Since I am an agent of Mpesa I experience challenges of float (Mpesa money) which sometimes makes me serve less than 100 people in a day and thus not meeting the high demands from my customers. However if I can secure more money I can comfortably serve as many people as I can and maintain daily customers and this would make my profit margin increase up to 65%.

I am therefore looking forward to be empowered by Zidisha platform of lending and being optimistic that I will secure loans which will boost my business to the next level.

Dear lenders,

I take this golden opportunity to thank you all for granting me my previous loan that enabled me purchase mobile phone accessories which raised my sale up 20%. I am planning to restock my business with fast moving mobile phones which is commonly used in rural towns and due to friendly prices. The demand from my customers has been very high and this loan will be of great help to complement my savings.

When granted this loan I intend to purchase:-

1). 4 Nokia 1200 seris @ USD 20 = USD 80

2). 3 Tecno mobile phones @ USD 20 = USD 60

3). 4 Itel mobile phones @ USD 15 =USD 60

3]. 4 Itex mobile phones @ USD 15 = USD 60

The remaining dollars will be used to purchase mobile phone accessories.

This stock of mobile phones will increase my profit margin with 40%

I promise to remain faithful in in repayment. Thank you lenders for supporting my project.