By David Herbling
In Summary
Milestones
- 2000 Opened Samchi Telecom on Koinange Street, Nairobi, to sell airtime, mobile phones and SIM cards.
- 2002 Opened Samchi’s second branch in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
- 2006 Became pioneer M-Pesa dealer as the service was being tested before being officially launched.
- 2009 Named best dealer in distribution resources by Safaricom.
- 2010 M-Pesa agent of the year.
- 2011 2nd runners up dealer of the year and best M-Pesa agent.
- 2012 2nd runners up dealer of the year and best data dealer.
- 2014 Named finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
After working for nearly two decades as an
auditor, Esther Muchemi decided to venture into Kenya’s nascent
telecommunications business where she saw many opportunities.
Ms Muchemi founded Samchi Telecom in 2000 to sell
airtime, mobile phones and SIM cards, with hopes of cashing in on the
imminent mobile revolution that was to sweep the country.
“Telecommunication business was on the verge of
exploding. I had an instinct that IT was going to be a big thing in
Kenya,” says the University of Nairobi accounting graduate.
Samchi Telecom was in 2009 and 2010 honoured as the top M-Pesa agent by Safaricom, based on transaction volumes. The company has severally been ranked as top airtime dealer for the telco.
Earlier in 1996, Ms Muchemi set up an auditing
firm, Esther Muchemi & Co, but the venture was not raking in enough
cash like she wanted.
“I decided to get into entrepreneurship. I knew I would get what I want by being self-employed,” she says.
Ms Muchemi says she used Sh800,000 to set up her first outlet at Nginyo Towers along Koinange Street in Nairobi.
Successful businesses
At first, Samchi Telecom was a retailer of both
Safaricom and Kencell (now Airtel) airtime and SIM cards, but Ms Muchemi
made a decision in 2001 to be an exclusive Safaricom dealer.
“The commission structure was very great in the early years,” says the entrepreneur.
Samchi Telecom is a wholesaler, retailer and
distributor of other product lines such as modems, USB flash drives and
wireless devices such as tablets and Webbox.
“We’ve grown organically. I have relied on credit from suppliers and my bank to grow the business,” she says.
In 2002, she opened Samchi Telecom’s second shop
in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate. The business is now a network of 42
outlets countrywide, a great feat that has seen Samchi open at least two
new shops every year.
She declined to disclose the firm’s turnover but it is believed to have grossed the billion shilling mark.
Ms Muchemi’s efforts to set up one of Kenya’s most
successful businesses saw her named as a finalist in this year’s Ernst
& Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (EOYA), Eastern Africa
chapter.
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