Moses Nderitu has been termed as a serial entrepreneur who has the ability to smell an opportunity where others can’t. He shared his story with PETER MUIRURI.
Moses Nderitu is a man never afraid of diving into the deep end even when surrounded by pessimists.
Moses Nderitu |
Born in Nairobi 38 years ago, Nderitu attended Westlands Primary School and later Highway Secondary School before enrolling for Chartered Institute of Marketing exams at the then Kenya School of Professional Studies, now Inoorero University.
He entered into the filming world in 1993.
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In 1994, Nderitu was propelled to fame through the longest running Omo Pick-a Box reality show that aired on local TV stations. The ever-versatile Nderitu followed this with the successful programme, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Last year, Nderitu was a board member in the CFC Magnate TV show that sought to identify and recruit young business minds with limited finances but much zeal to achieve their dreams.
Between 1997 and 2000, Nderitu was a producer with the CNN’s Nairobi bureau.
In 2000, he set up a film production company, Level One Communications with which he toured many parts of the world doing commercials and documentaries.
"I am happy that through this company, I was able to train young persons who went ahead to start their own production houses," he says.
In 2007, Nderitu would make a drastic move of selling his company to his former employees and jump headlong into human waste management through Excloosive Mobile Toilets.
His entry into the sanitation market was met with a lot of pessimism. Yet, his idea was the link between a successful social event and a flop.
According to Nderitu, one can go to an event where there is no food or other physical provisions but will need to use a toilet.
"Many will talk of the flower arrangement, food service and other so called ‘essential’ services forgetting the most crucial item —sanitation facility," says Nderitu.
Not easy
Just how did the idea? In 2004, Nderitu was in South Africa to shoot a Kenchic advert when he came across portable toilets installed on site. The concept fascinated him.
"An idea came up to purchase one toilet and use it for my company back home. However, due to stringent shipping requirements, I ended up buying four. However, instead of using all four for my company, I hired them out," says Nderitu.
But getting people to use his new facility was not easy.
"For six months, I gave out the toilets for free but many still refused to use them. Some thought I was crazy. It was proving to be an uphill task convincing people to use the loos," recalls Nderitu.
The problem lay with the stereotypical African whose attitude does not ‘allow’ him to discuss matters human waste in public. Yet, according to Nderitu, toilets are not luxuries but a necessity.
From the small beginnings, Excloosive has now become a household name. Nderitu, however, wants to take the idea further. Rather than being a weekend affair, he wants to ensure that the outdoor workers who would normally relieve themselves in the bush get dignified toilets.
In this, he is targeting groups like the traffic police, fibre optic cable layers, KPLC personnel and construction workers.
"I feel pity when I see traffic police manning our city roads all day with no place to relieve themselves. Those in the rural areas may not be near a work station and have to relieve themselves in the bushes," says Nderitu.
He is happy that some groups such as the contractors of the new Thika Superhighway saw the need to install portable toilets along the route for the sake of workers.
The ambitious Nderitu would also like to extend his service to slums and the countryside through the easy to install Enviro Loo that uses wind and sun rather that water for flushing.
"How can we talk of uplifting the lifestyles of our people when we cannot provide the basic of services?" he asks.
According to him, the provision of good sanitation is at the core in the realisation of good health. He is also amazed at the number of people who show up at political rallies and feels that there should be proper sanitation in these events.
"The Government ends up spending taxpayers’ money to treat diseases such as cholera that could have been prevented," he says.
However, it is not all work and no play for Nderitu, a serious biker and mountain climbing and soccer enthusiast. Nderitu, who is still single, is currently a student at Strathmore Business School and has been named one of the 40 Kenyans under 40 in a recent survey.
His parting shot: "better your business and grow it beyond yourself."
