Azym Dossa is a Kenyan billionaire and the owner of Easy Coach, Kenya’s largest bus network, operating over 100 buses across 100 destinations.
Dossa recently stepped down from active management, concluding a 20-year tenure at the helm of the bus company, citing health challenges and age as his reasons for exiting.
He emphasized that he would remain closely connected to Easy Coach, continuing to provide guidance and support to the company.
The mogul, who initially lived and worked in Canada, always envisioned starting his own long-distance transportation business back home. Despite being in his 50s and having limited industry knowledge, he was determined to take the risk, even amid family opposition.
“Running a company is one thing. Starting from scratch is something else. When I was 52 and living in Canada, I told my boys I would return to Kenya to start my business. They discouraged me,” he stated.
He returned to Kenya in the 1980s and took on a contractual role as Chief Financial Officer at the collapsed Akamba Bus Company. What began as a two-year contract evolved into a 17-year tenure, during which he gained invaluable insights and lessons that would later be pivotal in launching his own transportation venture.
In 2003, Dossa and a few of his friends started the Easy Coach company. Passionate about the transport industry, especially long-distance travel, he applied his experience from his former job where he revised fares and handled financial complaints.
Easy Coach launched with seven buses operating between Nairobi and Kisumu. The fleet soon grew with the addition of four more buses. As the company stabilized, they began purchasing 12 buses annually for three years, eventually doubling to 24 buses per year during the pre-high season.
As managing director of Easy Coach, Dossa revolutionized the transportation sector by prioritizing customer satisfaction over immediate profits. He introduced innovations such as waiting lounges with washrooms, which was rare at the time.
Additionally, he ensured buses did not stop along the way to pick up passengers, enhancing both security and the overall travel experience.
As a father of two sons, one might assume they would naturally take over after his retirement. However, this is not the case, as both are in the medical field and continue to reside in Canada.
“One of my sons is a massage therapist living and practicing in Canada, while my younger son is a chiropractor also practicing there. They both attended university in Canada after completing their O-levels at Peponi and Hillcrest schools,” he shared, noting that he occasionally travels to visit them and other family members.
He remains unconcerned about succession politics, trusting in the capabilities of his staff, who are well-versed in his operations and have been instrumental in building the company into a solid and respected brand.
“We have 900 employees across the country. I have thought of succession and what happens next, it is good to have proper CEOs and general managers who are doing it the way you would do it in your presence,” he noted.
Following his retirement, Technical Director Zulfiqar Adatia was appointed Managing Director to ensure continuity. Meanwhile, the company has begun searching for what Dossa described as a “young and dynamic CEO” to steer the bus company to new heights.
