KEY PLAYERS By Rahab Gakuru & RickJohn Ngugi

Titus Mutinda with his cart ready to deliver water to customers. 

In every middle and lower class estates in Nairobi, Kenya there are thriving small business you are bound to see; like bodaboda guys, mkokoteni water vendors, and green grocery cum street food Kiosk (Kiosk a small open-fronted hut or cubicle from which newspapers, refreshments, tickets, etc). 

Titus Mutinda is 43 years, a father of one, living and vending water in Umoja Estate Nairobi.  In 2015 Titus, a building manager noticed the recurring water problem in Umoja estate and jumped on the idea of vending water to the residents. Talking to Titus he had the following to say, “I have sold water in Umoja for the last 3 years , but 2017 was exceptional. From January the residents would receive water mixed with sewage, which rendered the water only useful in flushing the toilet. But from March it got even worse as the taps went completely dry. By November they still hadn’t resolved the water problem. Why not jump on that opportunity?” Mutua said. 

In a press release by Nairobi Water & Sewerage Company on Monday, November 04, 2019, they stated that Nairobi Water demand is 790,000 m3 against the installed production capacity of 525,000 m3 /day. In certain estates, particularly the Eastlands is affected by leakages due to old infrastructure and pipe interference, illegal connections, vandalism and catchment degradation among others. This has given rise to dependency on other water sources, like borehole water and water vendors.

To counter tenants' exodus from moving to other estates with a better supply; some landlords have drilled boreholes to ensure sufficient water supply for their tenants with slight increase in rent. For the many tenants who cannot afford to move to buildings with running water they are okay buying uncertified water.  

“A few landlords have drilled boreholes in their buildings, but business is still runs smoothly for me. I make a profit of Ksh 3,000 every month from selling water. This business is easy to start. You just need a cart and twenty 20-liter jerry cans. However, you have to be strong, pulling twenty jerry cans on a cartis no mean feat. In case the water challenge in Umoja is addressed I am pretty sure Nairobi has more Estates with similar problems, I will just move my business there.” Mutinda added.

Famous for the traffic jams, Nairobi traffic jams can only be avoided by traveling very early or simply using a bodaboda (Bodaboda are bicycle & motorcycle taxis commonly found in East Africa), which is able to access every part of Nairobi.  Lawrence Mbogo, a 40-year old bodaboda rider is stationed in Donholm Estate and lives in Kayole Estate. The father of one has to be at work by 6.00 am and close at 8:30 pm. He became a Boda Boda rider in 2013.

Lawrence Mbogo riding through Kibera. 

We spoke to Lawrence about his bodaboda venture and this is what he had to say,  “I'm glad five years ago I had the courage to quit my job as a casual laborer. As a bodada rider I am able to make Ksh 1,000 in a day.  The income has helped me open up a small hotel in Kayole because I am hoping to leave the risky bodaboda business someday.” 

Bodaboda riders have been accused by other motorists, police and pedestrians of being reckless on the road and flouting traffic rules even in the presence of traffic police. And with increased cases of crime committed by bodaboda riders and customers, do nothing to help matters with the bad image already created for poor road use. On Monday, March 7 2022, a video captured suspected boda boda riders brutally assaulting a lady driver after a traffic incident along Forest Road, Nairobi. The viral video captured the lady screaming for help as the group of young men ripped her clothes and tried to yank her off the car. Following the incident, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered a crackdown on all boda boda operators in Nairobi and across the country. He also directed the registration of all motorcycles.

By February 2018, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) reported that there were 1,393,390 motorcycles registered in Kenya. However, they also noted that the exact numbers of these motorcycles operating as ‘boda bodas’ in the country is unknown and documented. 

Lawrence says that Kenyans should not blame all bodaboda riders for mistakes committed by few riders who don't even have authentic licenses. “This industry was started in good faith to help young people who were idle in the country but it has also accommodated a few dangerous elements. Our main challenge is ferrying criminals disguised as customers for them to later kill you and take your motorcycle to commit crime. Police should be more diligent to rid this industry of the bad elements.” Lawrence added.

Silus Mutua, a father of one, operates a grocery cum food Kiosk which is sold in Umoja Estate. Silus started his business in 2011 and has been able to grow, allowing him to invest in the bodaboda venture. Speaking to Silus about his work he had this to say, “Apart from investing in the bodaboda business I have built a permanent home back at the village where I do cattle and goat farming. Because I am not always available to run this business I have employed a young man who works closely with my wife. Everyday I make a profit of Ksh 1,500. ”

Silus Mutua green grocery Kiosk. 

The grocery cum food Kiosk business is opened at 9.00 am and closed 9.00pm, with lunchtime and evening being the busiest time for the business. This business offers convenience and affordable vegetables to the hundreds of customers who folk the Kiosk on a daily basis. A free service of finely chopped vegetables for every customer who visits the Kiosk. 

“In three years I hope to completely surrender this business to my wife and do something else. If you don't know your target market this business can lead to so much loss because this business involves perishable goods. We also have very notorious customers who borrow but never pay.” Silus added.

Jane Nganga, fondly referred to as ‘Mama Githeri’ (Mama is a swahili word meaning mother. Githeri is a Kikuyu name referring to a traditional meal of maize and legumes, mostly beans of any type mixed and boiled together.), started her business in 2014. There was scarcity and people in Tena Estate would have to walk long distances to find a dealer.  Daily sales between May range from Ksh.1500 to Ksh.2000 and purchasing the cereals can cost around Ksh.300. My customers range from families to single people.  “I also supplement my githeri business with green grocery.”

Jane Nganga in her kiosk. 

On the challenges she faces, Jane says, “Sometimes there are no buyers and I suffer losses.  Sometimes the city council requires us to get the licenses and we have none. Some require that you bribe them in order for them to allow you to run your business.  I don’t have any permits required to sell food. That's why the city council officers keep on requiring me to bribe them.” Regarding her future prospects, “I hope to expand this business in future and open a cereal shop or Mpesa shop.”