In 2021, comedian Crazy Kennar made headlines when he launched his restaurant, Instant Delicacies.
Previously located at Juja Square, the restaurant gained significant attention during its grand launch, which was attended by top names in Kenya’s entertainment industry and the whole crew of “Tales of Crazy Kenner”.
During the launch, Kennar said the restaurant would specialize in fast food, targeting the huge market of students from the nearby Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Many people congratulated the award-winning comedian for the move, saying it was an inspiration for young people to invest the money they get from their small businesses.
However, barely a year later, the restaurant closed its doors, leaving many puzzled and speculating about the reasons behind this unexpected failure.
Recently, in an interview with Director Phil Karanja, Kennar revealed the real reason behind his failed business.
Mismanagement and Sacrifices
According to Kennar, his major mistake had been investing in the business and leaving other people to manage it during its early stages.
“My mistake was getting money from content creation and investing it in a restaurant business. It was a good idea. However, starting such a business requires you to be fully present,” he said.
Juggling his content creation business alongside restaurant management proved to be overwhelming, leaving him torn between his commitments.
The constant demands on his time, ranging from shooting content and writing scripts to managing the restaurant and personal life were too taxing.
By the time of its closure, the restaurant had employed about six employees and had become famous for its fries and grilled chicken.
Reflecting on his experience, The Content Cartel said he learned that when one has just begun to make money from an industry, the best decision you can make is to continue re-investing into that industry, at least until you become stable.
“Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of diversifying too early with the hope of better success. However, most end up failing,” he said.
However, Kennar said the business was profitable and that he would venture into it in the future, although under the management of someone else.
Failed Salon
Crazy Kennar is not alone in experiencing the challenges of running a business successfully, as fellow celebrity Vera Sidika also faced a similar fate.
Earlier this year, she had to close down her Mombasa-based Salon business, which employed about 50 people.
The salon was one of the biggest in Mombasa, with departments such as Veetox Herbal Detox, a salon, a massage area, and a hair salon.
According to Nairobi News, the salon had been facing several challenges, which led to a mass resignation of employees.
On her part, Vera attributed the salon’s failure to focusing too much on her family in Nairobi rather than her business.
The mother of two had relocated her salon business from the country’s capital to Mombasa in 2020 with the hope of rebranding to become bigger and better.
