Linah Momanyi’s journey proves that success comes from thinking outside the box. She boldly left her job to venture into a male-dominated industry, and that risk has paid off with impressive results.
For 12 years, Linah was an ordinary pharmacy employee in Mombasa, earning a modest income.
Her life’s trajectory changed in 2012 when she met a friend who had ventured into the tuk-tuk business, sparking her inspiration to follow a new path.
The motorbike taxi business in the Coastal town is highly profitable, serving as a primary mode of transport within the city. This presented Momanyi with the perfect opportunity to take a bold risk.
Motivated by her friend’s success, Linah bought two secondhand tuk-tuks, which were in poor condition. After repairing them, she started leasing them to riders, earning an impressive KSh 1,300 daily from each.
“I used Kshs 85,000 to repair the tuk-tuks to full functionality and in a day, I would get Kshs 1,300 and from both Kshs 2,600. Overtime, the income from the business was greater than my salary from the pharmacy, and I left to venture into it fully,” she said in an interview with Citizen TV.
She started saving her earnings and kept buying secondhand tuk-tuks from brokers. After acquiring eight, she realized she wanted to aim higher and began purchasing brand-new models from the major tuk-tuk dealership, Car and General.
As the three-wheeled tuk-tuks gained popularity in Mombasa, the demand for her services grew, prompting her to expand the venture. The businesswoman invested all her savings into acquiring more motorbikes, leaving her penniless and unable to cover repair costs for the vehicles already in operation.
This led her to open a spare parts store in Tononoka, which also serves as her office, making her the sole dealer of the merchandise. She employs five mechanics, a shop manager, and a general manager to ensure the smooth running of her business. Linah’s shop specializes in tuk-tuk repairs, supporting her growing fleet and highlighting her dedication to maintaining high standards.
Linah now employs 75 drivers, with 13 of them having worked with her for over a decade.
“I am very strict with my riders. If you do not remit the daily monies you lose your job before the deficit accumulates,” she disclosed.
Linah’s initial investment has grown into a thriving business empire, boasting a fleet of over 50 tuk-tuks. This success has enabled her to build her own home, and she now plans to expand into the real estate sector.
The business is not without its hurdles. Linah often encounters pressure from different Saccos to join their groups, and occasionally, her riders operate without the necessary licenses, resulting in run-ins with law enforcement.
Having grown up watching her mother work tirelessly to provide for the family, Linah revealed that her entrepreneurial drive is fueled by a desire to improve her own and her family’s life. She is determined to achieve her goal of owning 100 tuk-tuks and is resolute in seeing it through.
“I am a go getter, I come from a family that didn’t have much. I watched my mother struggle to raise us and I told myself that if I ever had a business that would lift me up from that situation, I would put my entire focus in it. I want to own 100 tuk-tuks and I believe that I will achieve my goal,” she stated.
Linah encouraged aspiring female entrepreneurs to explore unconventional businesses like hers, highlighting their potential in untapped markets, particularly for women. She advised against relying on traditional ventures such as running a mama mboga stall, citing market saturation and low income, and urged them to consider innovative, non-traditional opportunities.
