Young Business Kenya

Devaluation of Kenya Shilling: Government Must Explain

Central Bank of Kenya

Demonstrations and riots that have engulfed the United Kingdom in the recent past are not only shocking but also reveal that people, irrespective of their colour, culture and location can react differently when agitated. Developed countries have their ‘hooligans’ who loot as those in developing countries.

Democracy and respect for the rule of law is fundamental in governance but democracy itself must be controlled and regulated. Even though political scientists define democracy as ‘the majority wins,’ it is also important to define the relationship between democracy and civilization.

However as the people of UK go to the streets about the high cost of living, Kenyans are struggling to survive with an ailing economy. The value of the shillings is depreciating alarmingly forcing the living cost to rise above the income and expectation of ordinary Kenyans. The irony is that the government is not explaining to the people the reason for the high rate of inflation. A dollar is now changing at about one hundred shillings and yet many Kenyans live below a dollar a day and are not able to eat the required three meals a day let alone breakfast. Prices of most essential commodities such as Maize, Sugar, Unga, petrol, paraffin has doubled the normal price.

The Minister for Finance, the Central Bank governor and the whole chain of command in the treasury charged with the responsibility of managing finance and economy for the country should explain the situation or own up and resign because they have failed the country. Political responsibility should be a voluntary measure by any credible and responsible leader, Chief Executive Officer or Manager who has failed in discharging his or her duties.

While people are suffering, starving and dying from hunger, the leadership especially the ruling class including parliamentarians are busy increasing their salaries and running their businesses. Adamantly, most Members of parliament have refused to pay taxes and yet they themselves are the law makers. The Kenyan leaders should not mistake and underestimate Kenyans as cowards.

Kenyans are patient but very intelligent and strong. They can protest and demand for credible and accountable leadership. People’s power should not be taken for granted because it is a very strong component in terms of pushing for both economic and democratic freedom. The Kenyan leaders should not be brainwashed to think that Kenyans are different from other oppressed and suffering people in Uganda, UK, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and the rest now experiencing serious political and economic unrest.

The government has failed totally in its economic plan. Last year, the dollar was exchanging at 77 shillings. It has now clocked 94, an escalation of 27%. In south Sudan which just attained her independence, a dollar is exchanging at about 2.8 Sudanese pounds. The effect of the inflation is weighing strongly on the people of Kenya.

Politically, it is being speculated that the high cost of the dollar is politically instigated by certain politicians as a strategy for 2012 general elections. This is a very immoral attitude if true. It is a hell bent strategy aimed at literally strangling Kenyans. Though speculation, it is naïve to deny it because of the nature of Kenyan politicians who are known to be crafty, unreliable, irresponsible and not concerned with the welfare of the people.

By Denise A. O. Kodhe,

Executive Director, The Institute for Democracy, Leadership & Empowerment in Africa- IDEA, Nairobi, Kenya.

Retrieved from: http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=6033

Connecting African Entrepreneurs to Global Business (Sylvester John)

The average university students in Africa will wait to graduate before they seek to exercise the power of knowledge to impact their communities. Not so for Sierra Leon born Sylvester John, who as an undergraduate at the University of North Florida (U.S.A) in May 2000 helped establish a Center for Education, Free Enterprise and International Trade in Ghana. He eventually brought the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) initiative to Africa.Sylvester spent more than 10 years in Ghana and Togo. He officially established SIFE in Africa (specifically in Ghanaian universities) in 2000

Sylvester Theodore John was recently promoted to serve as Senior Vice President, International Students In Free Enterprise Inc.. SIFE creates a global partnership between business and higher education and prepares university students to meaningfully address real world issues that entrepreneurs and business leaders encounter. Mentored by faculty advisors and business leaders, university students conduct projects annually which are then judged by business leaders drawn from 45 countries across the World.

In September 2001, as head of SIFE Africa, Sylvester established an African-wide program that has since spread to 11 countries; has active participation from over 150 universities and 4,800 students annually and has witnessed the implementation of over 400 projects.

In Kenya, Sylvester John helped launch the SIFE Kenya chapter that has seen over 2,300 university students' gain from business interactions, SIFE projects, and international business competition popularly referred to as SIFE World Cup. In October 2005, under his leadership, University of Zimbabwe SIFE Team stunned the world by scooping the coveted SIFE World Cup at a competition in Toronto.

Those who have interacted with Sylvester will testify to his strong will power to transform Africa and the way the continent conducts her business with the global community.

At The African Executive, SIFE Kenya and Inter Region Economic Network, we congratulate Sylvester John for his new job as Vice President SIFE International operations in 45 countries and endorse him to be our African hero this season!

Retrieved from: http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/hero/index.php?id_article=17

Graduate Uses Skills to Make a Difference

Stephen Ondieki Orioki is a graduate of the academy at Raila Educational Centre in Kibera. Orioki completed the IT Essentials course and free business training offered at the academy, which provides guidance in several areas including job seeking, entrepreneurship, and customer service.

Orioki used his career and technical skills to open a computer repair shop. He started running the business out of his home, with a computer he purchased with borrowed funds, and invited youth who were involved in deviant activities such as drugs and gambling to play computer games at the center and learn more about technology. "It's a place for them to socialize and think more positively," Orioki explains. " While they're here they can avoid situations that lead them in the wrong direction and might cause them to become just another sad story. Most of them can relate to me because I grew up in the neighborhood," he adds. "They see me overcoming the same challenges they face and they're motivated to try to make some changes themselves.”

A Regional IT Ambassador

Orioki has successfully expanded his business into three computer centers with 30 computers and four employees. He visits each center every morning and evening to make sure everything is working properly, and offers affordable computer skills training to help local youth develop technical skills. More than 400 students have completed courses at the centers, with an average of 30 students attending each class.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Orioki was invited to attend the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize Award ceremony in Oslo, Norway. “Stephen’s achievements inspired the selection team in the United States,” says Muraj, “and they chose him to represent the entire African region at the awards.”

Venture helps SMEs take right steps and grow their business

When Ms June Gathoni and Ms Monica Wangui decided to invest their savings to help and empower entrepreneurs, many thought that theirs was a doomed venture.

But just one year after investing the Sh8 million they had saved and secured through sponsorship to start up Maple Small Medium Size Enterprise Resource Centre, Ms Gathoni, the director, said the centre has not only become a promising business but has also helped thousands of entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

The centre in Wanadege, Hurligham in Nairobi, advises entrepreneurs on business opportunities and also engages in consultancy for SMEs and start-ups. Among the services they offer their clients are business plan writing, systems management, marketing campaigns both locally and internationally, brand management, public relations and consultancy, all at a fee.

Ms Gathoni, 30, says the centre is for start-ups, SMEs and other companies that are looking for information, help and empowerment in entrepreneurship and it aims to equip SMEs with financial and business management skills.

“Our main objective is to support SMEs’ every step of their way as they implement systems and good business practices that govern enterprises from small businesses to future corporations,” Ms Gathoni told the Business Daily.

Small to medium business owners and start-ups can also borrow funds at competitive terms than currently available in the market to enable them grow and expand their businesses.

Before starting the centre, Ms Gathoni was in information technology and M-Pesa business for more than seven years and she felt the heat of being denied quick loans when she needed money, and lack of business information.

“At times, you want a loan to boost your promising business but the condition in banks and other financial institutions send you away because you probably don’t have the security they need. This puts your business at risk of collapsing and that is the gap we want to fill,” she said.

To achieve this, the centre holds annual small and medium enterprise fair and conference, training seminars, workshops and forums that bring together financiers, companies with business opportunities and consultants for SMEs.

Businesses and individuals seeking to join the resource centre and enjoy training from business experts in various sectors are required to pay Sh1,500 annual fee.

So far, says Ms Gathoni, they have more than 1, 000 members from Nairobi, Eastern, Central, Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Coast provinces where they hold conferences during different times each month, and more are still coming on board.

In most economies, Kenya included, she says, SMEs comprise about 99 per cent of all firms and employ between them about 60 per cent of the workforce, hence the need to empower them.

Driving innovation

And in many sectors, SMEs are responsible for driving innovation and competition. Globally SMEs account for 99 per cent of businesses and 40 to 50 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.

Since they began their services, Ms Gathoni says, there has been positive improvement in their members, and Government supports SMEs in order to boost economic growth.

“The government is now recognising our work and it’s concerned about these group of business people it had earlier ignored,” she said.

She says that SMEs should be taken more seriously and that suitable framework should be put in place to help them surmount the challenges that they face.

Retrieved from http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Venture+helps+SMEs+take+right+steps+and+grow+their+business/-/539444/1185878/-/item/0/-/5cryvf/-/index.html
on 27th June 2011.

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STARTING A BUSINESS: THE IDEA PHASE

You know you want to start a business, but what do you do next? Here's how to find the perfect idea for your business.

Many people believe starting a business is a mysterious process. They know they want to start a business, but they don't know the first steps to take. In this chapter, you're going to find out how to get an idea for a business--how you figure out exactly what it is you want to do and then how to take action on it.

But before we get started, let's clear up one point: People always wonder if this is a good time to start their business idea. The fact is, there's really never a bad time to launch a business. It's obvious why it's smart to launch in strong economic times. People have money and are looking for ways to spend it. But launching in tough or uncertain economic times can be just as smart. If you do your homework, presumably there's a need for the business you're starting. Because many people are reluctant to launch in tough times, your new business has a better chance of getting noticed. And, depending on your idea, in a down economy there is often equipment (or even entire businesses!) for sale at bargain prices.

Everyone has his or her own roadblock, something that prevents them from taking that crucial first step. Most people are afraid to start; they may fear the unknown or failure, or even success. Others find starting something overwhelming in the mistaken belief they have to start from scratch. They think they have to come up with something that no one has ever done before--a new invention, a unique service. In other words, they think they have to reinvent the wheel.

But unless you're a technological genius--another Bill Gates or Steve Jobs--trying to reinvent the wheel is a big waste of time. For most people starting a business, the issue should not be coming up with something so unique that no one has ever heard of it but instead answering the questions: "How can I improve on this?" or "Can I do this better or differently from the other guy doing it over there?" Or simply, "Is there market share not being served that makes room for another business in this category?"

Get the Juices Flowing
How do you start the idea process? First, take out a sheet of paper and across the top write "Things About Me." List five to seven things about yourself--things you like to do or that you're really good at, personal things (we'll get to your work life in a minute). Your list might include: "I'm really good with people, I love kids, I love to read, I love computers, I love numbers, I'm good at coming up with marketing concepts, I'm a problem solver." Just write down whatever comes to your mind; it doesn't need to make sense. Once you have your list, number the items down one side of the paper.

On the other side of the paper, list things that you don't think you're good at or you don't like to do. Maybe you're really good at marketing concepts, but you don't like to meet people or you're really not that fond of kids or you don't like to do public speaking or you don't want to travel. Don't overthink it; just write down your thoughts. When you're finished, ask yourself: "If there were three to five products or services that would make my personal life better, what would they be?" This is your personal life as a man, woman, father, husband, mother, wife, parent, grandparent--whatever your situation may be. Determine what products or services would make your life easier or happier, make you more productive or efficient, or simply give you more time.

Next, ask yourself the same question about your business life. Examine what you like and dislike about your work life as well as what traits people like and dislike about you. Finally, ask yourself why you're seeking to start a business in the first place. Then, when you're done, look for a pattern to emerge (i.e., whether there's a need for a business doing one of the things you like or are good at).

They Delivered
Here's a business startup story that's a great example of seeing a need and filling it. Entrepreneur magazine is located in Irvine, California, a planned community. Many years ago, there weren't many fast-food restaurants in the business area. Most were across town, where the neighborhoods were. Two young men in Irvine found this lunch situation very frustrating. There weren't many affordable choices. Sure, there were some food courts located in strip centers, but the parking lots were really small and the wait was horrendous.

One day, as they were lamenting their lunch problem, one of them said, "Wouldn't it be great if we could get some good food delivered?" The proverbial light bulb went on! Then they did what many people don't do--they did something about their idea. Coincidentally, they purchased one of Entrepreneur's business startup guides and started a restaurant delivery business.

To date, their business has served more than 15 million people! It's neither a complicated business nor an original one. Their competition has gotten stiffer, and yet they're doing phenomenally well. And it all began because they listened to their own frustrations and decided to do something about them. Little did they know that research cites the shrinking lunch hour as one of the biggest complaints by American workers. Some only get 30 minutes, making it nearly impossible to get out, get lunch and get back on time. So while these young entrepreneurs initially thought they were responding to a personal need in their local area, they actually struck a universal chord.

That is one way to get ideas--listening to your own (or your co-workers', family's or neighbors') frustrations. The opportunities are all there; you just need to search them out. If your brain is always set in idea mode, then many ideas may come from just looking around or reading. For instance, if you had read an article about the shrinking lunch hour, and if you were thinking entrepreneurially, you would say "Wow, maybe there's an opportunity there for me to do something. I should start researching it."

Inspiring Moments
Inspiration can be anywhere. Here's another classic startup story: Ever get charged a fee for returning a video late? Bet you didn't do anything about it. Well, when Reed Hastings got a whopping $40 late charge, instead of getting mad, he got inspired. Hastings wondered "How come movie rentals don't work like a health club, where, whether you use it a lot or a little, you get charged the same?" From this thought, Netflix.com, an online DVD rental service, was born. From its start in 1999, Netflix has grown into a big business with revenues topping $1.3 billion.

Getting an idea can be as simple as keeping your eyes peeled for the latest hot businesses; they crop up all the time. Many local entrepreneurs made tons of money bringing the Starbucks coffeehouse concept to their hometowns and then expanding from there. Take Minneapolis-based Caribou Coffee. The founders had what they describe as an "aha moment" in 1990, and two years later launched what is now the nation's second-largest company-owned gourmet coffeehouse chain. Other coffee entrepreneurs have chosen to stay local.

And don't overlook the tried and true. Hot businesses often go through cycles. Take gardening. For the last few years gardening products and supplies have been all the rage, but you wouldn't consider gardening a 21st century business.

In other words, you can take any idea and customize it to the times and your community. Add your own creativity to any concept. In fact, customizing a concept isn't a choice; it's a necessity if you want your business to be successful. You can't just take an idea, plop it down and say "OK, this is it." Outside of a McDonald's, Subway or other major franchise concept, there are very few businesses that work with a one-size-fits-all approach.

One of the best ways to determine whether your idea will succeed in your community is to talk to people you know. If it's a business idea, talk to co-workers and colleagues. Run personal ideas by your family or neighbors. Don't be afraid of people stealing your idea. It's just not likely. Just discuss the general concept; you don't need to spill all the details.

Just Do It!
Hopefully by now, the process of determining what business is right for you has at least been somewhat demystified. Understand that business startup isn't rocket science. No, it isn't easy to begin a business, but it's not as complicated or as scary as many people think, either. It's a step-by-step, common-sense procedure. So take it a step at a time. First step: Figure out what you want to do. Once you have the idea, talk to people to find out what they think. Ask "Would you buy and/or use this, and how much would you pay?"

Understand that many people around you won't encourage you (some will even discourage you) to pursue your entrepreneurial journey. Some will tell you they have your best interests at heart; they just want you to see the reality of the situation. Some will envy your courage; others will resent you for having the guts to actually do something. You can't allow these naysayers to dissuade you, to stop your journey before it even begins.

In fact, once you get an idea for a business, what's the most important trait you need as an entrepreneur? Perseverance. When you set out to launch your business, you'll be told "no" more times than you've ever been told before. You can't take it personally; you've got to get beyond the "no" and move on to the next person--because eventually, you're going to get to a "yes."

One of the most common warnings you'll hear is about the risk. Everyone will tell you it's risky to start your own business. Sure, starting a business is risky, but what in life isn't? Plus, there's a difference between foolish risks and calculated ones. If you carefully consider what you're doing, get help when you need it, and never stop asking questions, you can mitigate your risk.

You can't allow the specter of risk to stop you from going forward. Ask yourself "What am I really risking?" And assess the risk. What are you giving up? What will you lose if things don't work out? Don't risk what you can't afford. Don't risk your home, your family or your health. Ask yourself "If this doesn't work, will I be worse off than I am now?" If all you have to lose is some time, energy and money, then the risk is likely worth it.

Determining what you want to do is only the first step. You've still got a lot of homework to do, a lot of research in front of you.

HOW TO START A BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH

Are you driven to create the new business that you have been thinking about or are you just bored with your job and think that a new business will be less work?

Okay, so you have a great idea for a business start-up, but how far are you willing to go to make that idea for your new business into a money maker as opposed to a dream?

There are many questions that you have to ask yourself when you decide to Start your own business. You have to be totally committed to the idea and willing to work through any problems. If you think that your startup small business is going to be easy, think again. It is difficult, but rewarding at the same time. You have to be prepared to meet any and all challenges that lie ahead or your business will not be a success.

When you have your own small business, expect to work hard and long hours to get your business going. You will be on your own, without anyone holding your hand along the way. The profit that you expect to make may very well be in the future as most businesses do not turn a profit in the first year. But, if you are strong willed and determined to succeed in your business, you will be successful.

Running your own business start-up is not only financially rewarding, but personally gratifying. You are working for yourself, to make yourself rich instead of working to make someone else money. Those who are the most successful in the United States are those who have an entrepreneurial spirit. There is an old saying – “You never get rich working for someone else.” This is true. If you want to be truly successful, you have to have the gut to start up your own business, but be prepared to take on the challenges as well as reap the rewards.

Commitment is key to being successful in your own business. Before you start looking for business finance, be sure that you are totally committed to success. You need to be committed and passionate about your business idea and be willing to give it most of your time. You should start a business that you love, that you will want to continue to work on because you believe in the idea and the need for the business. Remember – if you are doing something that you like, you will never really work a day in your life. Those who succeed in their own business love the business that they are in and enjoy the work that it takes to build the business idea into reality.

Before you start your own business, ask yourself these questions:

- Can you put in the time it will take to make your business successful?
- Are you able to take on the challenges of a new business?
- Do you have people who will stand behind you with your new business, such as family and friends?
- Take this short quiz to see if you are the entrepreneurial type.
- Get a hold of potential clients or customers and talk about the business to determine their interest.
- Do a marketing study such as offering sample products or services on a trial basis to see the general interest in your business. .
- Research your competitor’s businesses so that you can better understand your own business prospects – learn their strengths and weaknesses and see how you
can capitalize on strengths and eliminate the weaknesses in your own business.