From hawking eggs to owning PSV fleet

By ERIC WAINAINA

When Paul Mburu Muthumbi told his secondary schoolmates that he would be a figure to reckon with in the country’s public transport sector, they dismissed it as an impossible dream.

Mr Muthumbi was impressed by the buses that passed through his village and developed a passion for public transport.

He told his friends he would not look for employment after school and would instead start small businesses that would help him raise money to start a transport company.

Since he did not come from a rich family, his friends laughed at his plans. But Muthumbi, now 80, has lived to show them up.

The trader who was born and raised in Limuru owns a fleet of buses — under the trademark Mbukinya — that ply various routes across the country.

Muthumbi currently owns 39 51-seater buses, down from a peak of 48 buses. He says he had to reduce his fleet due to the challenges in the public transport sector.

His story is one of resilience, hope and patience. In fact, just recently, Tsusho Capital, an in-house financier at Toyota Kenya, awarded him for being their oldest and most loyal customer.

Once Muthumbi sat his final exams in school in 1952, he started selling eggs and chicken in Limuru town. After 11 years, he had saved Sh6,000.

LONG-DISTANCE ROUTES

He bought his first bus, a second-hand one, using Sh3,000 of his savings plus a Sh5,000 loan.

He operated in Limuru and Nairobi towns. After some time, he traded up and bought a second-hand Mercedes Benz bus.

“I was the driver and I had hired a conductor. Since it had now become my full time business, I got better at it day by day,” he says.

In 1972, Muthumbi bought his first new bus and used it for long-distance routes, which included Kisumu and Kakamega.

“With the new bus, I was able to operate for 24 hours, and this grew the business by leaps and bounds. I increased my buses quickly,” he says.

By the 1980s, Muthumbi had 48 buses. However, in the late 90s, he was forced to reduce the number after insurance premiums got too demanding.

This year, Muthumbi decided to expand his business again. Last month, he brought 21 Hino buses from Toyota Kenya, putting his fleet at 39.

All his children, the oldest being 54, work for his transport firm, each handling different departments. Muthumbi is still involved in the day-to-day running of the business.

His current challenge, he says, is the night-travel ban. “We are losing about 60 per cent of our income because of it.”
His advice to young entrepreneurs?

“Be patient. Most people fail because they are overambitious. Learn about your business because there isn’t one without challenges. Also, do not engage in a business just because it is lucrative; you must have a passion for it in order to succeed,” he says.

bizbeat@standardmedia.co.ke