Machakos is one of the fastest growing towns in Ukambani.
It is the most popular town in the region. Machakos town's population is growing day in day out, that makes it good for small scale traders.
Due to unemployment in the area, many people have come up with ideas of harvesting money from the huge population through micro-businesses.
These small businesses have proven to be profitable in Machakos town:
1. Sale of ready made food
This is done mostly at the Machakos bus station where you will see ladies carrying ready cooked food to sell to travelers, touts and drivers.
They sell foods like muthokoi, beans and chapati, ugali manangu, etc.
"I make over Sh2,000 when the business is good. I don't struggle so much because many people already know me. When my clients see me, they see food," says Scholar Kanini.
Kanini who is in her middle-age has been vending food at the bus park for three years now.
Another trader Ms. Muthike Makau who also sells food at the same park says she makes over Sh1,500 everyday totaling to around Sh45,000 monthly.
2. 'Mitumba' business
Those who sell 'mitumba' clothes in Machakos town can attest to this.
"If you open a bail of cheap clothes like t-shirts and trousers here in Machakos town, you will fetch a lot of money," says Michael Muli who sells such clothes at Kenya Israel shopping centre in the outskirts of Machakos town.
According to Muli, most residents buy clothes which cost between Sh50 and Sh300.
He makes around Sh3,000 profit in a day.
3. Hawking small commodities
These commodities include sweets, biscuits, water, take away sodas, boiled eggs, fruit salads, etc.
"I have sold water, sweets and other things here at the bus station, but I can't complain because I pay my bills and put food on the table," says Kyalo Kaloki.
Kaloki says he makes up to a profit of Sh1,000 daily.
He says his motivation is his family and urged the youth to emulate him or hatch other ideas to earn descent livelihoods instead of idling or getting into crime.
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