I am Jerry Mutunga Mutua, I was born in Kitui central sub county, Kitui County, Kenya, in the year 1998. I currently live in the same location. I am a graduate in bachelor of science in environmental science with IT. I graduated from Maseno University in Kisumu, Kenya in the year 2022. Due to scarcity of employment opportunities in my country I decided to create an income generating activity which is a retail business. The business has been up and running since 2022, except for a few financial crises which I was facing during stocking and management before I met Zidisha

I am a committed business person with more than 4 years in retail business. I have learnt a lot from running my business, I understand ups and downs in business.

LAND AND CULTURE

Kitui is classified as an Arid and Semi Arid area, where annual rainfall goes to a maximum of 250mm and some areas 100mm, so this county is fragile, and not suitable for farming due to unreliable rainfalls.

People in my community are very peaceful and they preach love, peace and unity

MY FAMILY

I AM a family man with one boy and wife. My wife has not secured any job yet, she's a graduate in community health and development.This is why I'm working hard to make ends meet and cater for their needs.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

Community service, mentorship, Leadership and Administration, Teaching and Research

My business is situated in the same location as my residence, I have registered my business under the government of Kenya with the name HOTCIRCLE INVESTMENTS. My business deals with food and household commodities as a whole. I chose this business due to the lack of other businesses operating in my proximity, thereby having a bigger customer base.The profits I raise from my business are used to sustain my family and another percentage is invested back into the business. My business is currently working under the capital of $450 and makes an average monthly profit of $120. Having met Zidisha, I hope my business inventory will improve. Thanks to the Zidisha community for the support this time.

This loan will be allocated for two primary purposes:

1. Solar Installation: Due to frequent power blackouts affecting our operations, we plan to invest in solar panel installation to ensure a reliable and sustainable power source. This initiative will not only mitigate the impact of power outages on our business but also contribute to environmentally friendly practices.

2. Shop Inventory Enhancement: A portion of the loan will be allocated to enhance our shop inventory. This strategic investment will enable us to expand our product offerings, meet customer demand more effectively, and enhance overall sales revenue.

Loan Utilization Breakdown:

- Solar Installation: kes 16,000 ( $124)

- Shop Inventory Enhancement: kes 10,000 ($77)

Benefits to Our Business:

- Reliable power supply through solar installation for uninterrupted operations.

- Improved shop inventory to meet customer demand and boost sales.

- Enhanced operational efficiency and resilience against power blackouts.

We are confident that this strategic investment will not only address the challenges posed by unreliable power supply but also drive growth and sustainability in our business. Thanks in advance.