Nahashon Kiplagat who hails from Kabarnet in Baringo County always had a passion for business.
The 24 year-old, who is an alumni of Bartolimo Boys High School, developed a culture of saving while in high school, where he used to save his pocket money.By the time he was completing his secondary education in 2011, Kiplagat had saved Sh10,000, which would later transform his life.Kiplagat started a small business of selling charcoal to his neighbours in Kabarnet, and within a short period of time, he had managed to save Sh20,000 which he used to expand his business.The young entrepreneur then started supplying charcoal to customers in Iten town and was even awarded tenders by some of the prestigious hotels in the region.Business was however not easy as he faced a number of challenges including the high cost of transporting the charcoal. He bought a motorbike after six months which was a major boost to his business as he could now deliver the charcoal to his customers with ease.Kiplagat closed down his charcoal business in 2012 after joining the Mount Kenya University to pursue a Degree in Education.By this time he had bought two motorbikes which became his main source of income. He joined the bodaboda sector in Eldoret town and used to earn Sh600 per day from the bikes.Kiplagat would later in third year make a decision that would change his life forever after one of his friends told him about a house near the Mt Kenya University which was being leased for Sh400,000.He recalls how he met the landlord and told her he had Sh200,000 and would complete the payment in the next three months. He, however, had no idea what kind of business he would set up. He was forced to borrow the balance form his close friends and family members whom he says criticised him for spending so much money on the house.“My elder brother told me to stop dreaming and focus on my studies. I knew they would never understand my passion for business. I had a feeling that the house would yield me good fortunes,” said Kiplagat.With three days left to the deadline Kiplagat still needed to raise Sh60, 000, which left him with only one option, his college fees. He took a big gamble and used his college fees of Sh50, 000 to pay the balance. He finally got the house but still had no idea what to do with it.“I later realised most of the students at the university would idle around after their classes and thought of erecting a pool table. That's is how I settled on the recreational activity as it would keep the students busy and earn me money at the same time,” he says.He notes his family members were against the idea but he decided to ignore their criticism and follow his gut.“My biggest second worry was raising money to purchase the pool table as the cheapest costs about Sh150,000. I had stretched my muscles raising money for securing the room and here I was faced with the task of raising another Sh300,000 to buy two pool tables. I felt like giving up,” said Kiplagat.That’s when he decided to sell his two motorbikes for Sh155,000 and took a bank loan of Sh50,000. He used the money to buy a new pool table for Sh150,000 and a second hand one for Sh50,000.
Students at one of the pool table establishments owned by Kiplagat. [Photo/ Evans Kirui]“The first month was full of frustrations but as much as I wanted to give up, I thought of how far I had come. I made Sh20,000 in the first month which was too little as I could not afford to pay my rent of Sh30,000 per month leave alone paying my worker his salary,” said Kiplagat.He talked to the landlord who he says was very understanding and gave him time to grow the business.The business started picking up in the second month as he made an average of Sh900 per day from each pool table. He soon started earning up to Sh2,000 from each pool table, amounting to Sh120,000 per month.Kiplagat expanded his business and opened another branch at Komora Centre, where his main customers are students from the University of Nairobi and colleges in the area.“I make at least Sh240,000 per month from my business. I have employed four people some of whom are alumni of Mount Kenya University,” says Kiplagat.The young businessman who has become an inspiration to youth in the area is now a proud owner of a white Toyota Noah and a plot in the prestigious Annex estate.
Kiplagat poses for a photo in front of his white Toyota Noah. [Photo/ Evans Kirui]
He hopes to open more branches in Kisumu County.
#jobprofiles