Early last year, a Kenyan Bank invited me for a forum for SME’s who bank with them. It was great meeting different people and listening to different insights of how business is for them. The trainer gave us a case study of a fictional company which was run by a lady who hired her brother in-law as the accountant. Unfortunately …

One of the interesting men I have met in the academic indulgence is a lecturer in MBA classes, a gentleman who had guts enough to say that in the industry where my interests have always been, there is no money. That since 1984, cumulatively, that industry has made losses. He narrates that the same industry – I am tempted to …

It is inevitable that someday, the business that we have founded will have to pass to our children. So how do we ensure that we engage children in a healthy way that will ensure longevity of the business?  One of the ways is through apprenticeship which allows parents to pass the trade to the children. It ensures that the business …

Around 500,000 Kenyans graduate from institutions of higher learning each year flooding the job market, an influx both the public and private sector cannot absorb fully. This has led to a very high unemployment rate estimated over 40%, and many vices attached to idleness, including indulgence to drugs, crime and terrorism. Many development experts are of the idea that enterprise …

They say the first friendship a child forms is with either a brother or sister. It would make sense especially if you grow up around the same ages and transition around the same time. I have friends and a couple of relatives who have started businesses as siblings. I always ask them how they do it and here are a …

Recently a delegation from Nepal visited our country to study the microfinance environment, and pick lessons for implementation. I had an opportunity not only to do a presentation but interact with the team that included government officials, representatives from a central bank and key leaders within Nepalese microfinance sector. The most interesting thing is that Nepal and Kenya share a …

Though I have not started throwing stones yet I am a football fanatic, not likely to miss any iconic meet. Anyone who watched the Champions League game between Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) will definitely tell you they understand the meaning of “fighting like a wounded lion” particularly in business ventures.  Being football enthusiast, of course I waited for …

“But after all the torture those exams put me through, I surely deserve a few days at the coast mom!!” “Brandon, as much as I would love to, I just don’t see where I could cough up that kind of money at this time of the year.” And the once smiley-faced Brandon walks away utterly disappointed in Mum, probably even …

The past one and half months, I have witnessed a lot of borrowing going into consumer related purposes like school fees, assets acquisition and similar personal matters. While the other competitive field in loan advances has been in business, consumer takes it all. Borrowing for investment and agri-related ventures seems to have taken a back seat. As a banker, I …

A year ago an old friend of mine called me saying she had a business proposition for me. At first I was hesitant, but could out of curiosity I agreed to meet up with her. After catching up about the good old days and the usual pleasantries, she got down to business. I admired the passion she had for her …