After five years of shaping young minds within the walls of a classroom, Noah Ochola found himself standing at a crossroads of his life.
The four walls of the classroom, which had once been his stage for teaching English to eager students at Mbita High School in Homa Bay County, could no longer contain his aspirations.
With a deep-seated yearning for something more, he decided to bid farewell to the chalk and embark on a journey that would see him shape not just young minds, but also the landscape of the manufacturing industry in Kenya.
His journey into entrepreneurship was sparked by a restlessness he couldn’t ignore.
“I wasn’t happy; I kept doing the same thing over and over again,” he confessed, reflecting on his teaching career.
He gazed at his life, the house he lived in, and pondered whether there was more to it.
With a tinge of uncertainty, he posed the question to the universe, “Is this all?” It was a question that would set him on a path of transformation and innovation.
Today, Noah Ochola stands as a director at Resintuff Industries, a company that has etched its name as a pioneer in Kenya’s manufacturing sector.
The company’s claim to fame lies in introducing composite materials for crafting manhole covers – a seemingly mundane item with revolutionary potential.
Ochola’s innovation addressed a pervasive issue faced by sanitation firms: the rampant vandalism of metallic manhole covers by scrap metal dealers. It was a problem that demanded an innovative solution.
From the bustling No 45 Enterprise Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, Ochola recounts his entrepreneurial journey – a journey that has seen him steer Resintuff Industries into a medium-sized enterprise, generating an annual turnover exceeding Ksh 50 million.
The company specializes in designing and manufacturing composite manhole covers that serve crucial roles in water, sewerage, drainage, and petroleum utility networks, supporting the infrastructure of neighborhoods, cities, and industries.
Ochola’s academic journey might have started with linguistics and literature, but the entrepreneurial fire was kindled early on.
Even as a schoolboy, he ventured into the world of commerce, selling sugarcane to his peers.
His teaching career did not quell his entrepreneurial spirit; he engaged in retail and ran a transportation business on the side.
The pivotal moment arrived when he was presented with an opportunity to teach English abroad. Italy beckoned initially, but it was China that captured his imagination.
“I had always been fascinated by China,” he shared.
The allure of a land steeped in mystique, adorned with images of Kung Fu and rich history, led him to choose China as his destination.
In 2002, he landed in China, embarking on a transformative journey.
His first days were marked by the unfamiliar – the language barrier, the isolation of being the only black person, and the challenge of procuring food.
Starvation gripped him, and for three days, he went without food due to his inability to communicate his needs.
However, the adversity fueled his determination. He learned the language, embraced the culture, and even ventured into consuming exotic dishes like snails, frogs, and snakes.
It was in China that Ochola’s business antennae started tingling.
Surrounded by a country known for its vast array of manufactured products, he identified an opportunity in the motorbike industry. He began importing motorbike engines to be fitted onto bicycles, capitalizing on the trend of motorized bicycles.
The business provided him with the financial impetus he needed.
“I thought instead of Kenyans importing motorbikes, why not assemble them locally? If we have over one million motorbikes you can imagine the amount of money spent to import them including spares such as tyres and headlamps,” said Mr Ochola.
While his aspirations of establishing a local motorcycle assembly plant faced hurdles from well-established competitors, Noah Ochola remained undeterred.
He recognized the potential of addressing a glaring issue in Kenya – the vulnerability of metallic manhole covers to theft.
With this in mind, Ochola brought his entrepreneurial aspirations back home, arriving on Kenyan soil in 2006.
Armed with a solution to the manhole cover conundrum, Ochola approached the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company with his proposition.
The concept of non-metallic, composite manhole covers resonated, marking a pivotal moment in his journey.
The order for 200 covers in 2007 where he earned Ksh 1.5 million profit marked the beginning of Resintuff Industries, a venture that would go on to redefine urban infrastructure across Kenya
The transition from teaching to entrepreneurship wasn’t without its challenges. In the early days of his business, financial constraints posed a significant hurdle.
Yet, Ochola’s resourcefulness and determination led him to secure financing through a local lender, leveraging his Local Purchase Order (LPO) as collateral.
As his enterprise gained traction, it became apparent that Noah Ochola’s vision extended beyond addressing a singular problem.
He landed an order of Ksh12 million to supply Narok Water and Sanitation Company but was unable to complete it due to lack of funds.
The company’s composite manhole covers found their place not only in Kenya but also in neighboring countries, including Rwanda and Uganda.
