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| PHOTO | DENISH OCHIENG, NATION MEDIA GROUP |
It has been said that you cannot come up with a new business
idea in the 21st century. There are geniuses out there; even what
you may think is the most unique idea has already been put to existence even if
not in exactly the same format you have conceived it. But what would you call someone
who takes an existing business idea and transforms it into something that takes
the market by storm? That is exactly what Abbas Kitogo is doing right at the
heart of Nairobi.
Kitogo’s initial idea was to hawk fast foods in the streets
of Nairobi. If the city council would have allowed it, that is what he could be
doing to this date, probably not making as much as he now does and being far
from the happy man he is today. But after his idea was out rightly rejected by
the council big men, necessity became the mother of the invention that he has
now come up with.
Kitogo says that he was employed but because of the
prevailing economic situations, and the humanly need to develop, he wanted to
have another source of income. His fast food hawking business idea came to him after
realising the limited time which students and the 9-5 office people have for
meals during the day, which presented a high potential for business. Now that
the city council could not allow him to do it, he had to think. The result of
that thinking is Green Clean Mobile Takeaway, the fast food business he runs
from an electric van.
He stations his green van on a vacant space on Koinange
Street near City Market. Due to its uniqueness, Kitogo’s green, electric mini-van
stands out in its vicinity and is emphasized by the fact that it houses a fast food
stand. This is one thing that attracts customers to his business apart from the
fact that he offers quality foods.
The challenges
No business comes without its fare share of challenges. For
Kitogo’s unique business, it was not the city council but balancing his employment
with the new venture. At first, he employed two people but quickly realised
that such a start-up could not be profitable with the two employees. He
resorted to dedicating more of his time to the business and working with his
wife and only one other employee.
Growth and profitability
It only took a short time for Green Clean Mobile Takeaway to
overcome its teething problems. Today, the venture that grew from this unique
business idea has become profitable. Kitogo plans to expand Green Clean Mobile
Takeaway to Nakuru, Mombasa and eventually, to the rest of East Africa.
In Europe, there are mobile food trucks that run almost on
the same idea. Kenyans increasingly becoming too busy and if you could come up
with an idea to save them a little of their time, it could be one of the best business
ideas.