The Western Kenya region comprises of Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia Counties. Even though Trans-Nzoia is located in North Rift, it is occasionally merged with the Western Kenya counties owing to a rich historical and cultural links it has with the other four counties.
The Western region is a locality with a lot of untapped economic potential. However, the success stories of entrepreneurs from this region who have built reputable brands are barely told.
In this article, WoK chronicles the under 40 enterprising individuals from Western Kenya who are already making big moves in various sectors.
1). Eric Amunga (Amerix)
Amunga is a popular medic based in Bungoma town who is known to issue health and lifestyle advice through social media. It is his masculinity tweets that he posts on Saturdays that propelled him to the limelight and earned him thousands of loyal followers.
Amunga is arguably the only Kenyan who has been successful in having a website with a paywall and still manage to get thousands of subscribers, some from across the borders. Additionally, Amerix has various packages for individuals battling lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity where he offers medical expertise on how best to manage these chronic illnesses.
He also sells authentic masculinity and philosophy books through his websites. Currently, he is in the process of rolling out an app that he says will benefit followers in selling their merchandise while also keeping what he considers as principles of ‘stoic masculinity’ intact. In Bungoma, Amerix is linked to Afya Space clinic where he attends to patients.
2). Simiyu Paul
Simiyu Paul is the founder of KenyaNurse agency which basically helps Kenyan medics and students relocate to developed countries for better opportunities. He comes from Trans-Nzoia County and currently works as a nurse in the UK.
Since its inception in 2020, the agency has successfully helped over 500 Kenyan nurses secure jobs in the UK. According to Simiyu, he is passionate about Kenyan nurses grabbing life changing opportunities regardless of their background.
The KenyaNurse agency has employed dozens of trainers who offer professional coaching to nurses pursuing greener pastures. Currently, they have offices in Eldoret and Kisumu.
Read more: Simiyu Paul: Meet The Man Securing Jobs For Kenyan Nurses In The UK
3). Steve Biko Wafula
Steve Biko Wafula is from Webuye West Constituency in Bungoma County. He is an entrepreneur with interests in media, manufacturing and financial consultancy.
Wafula is popularly known as soko analyst and is the CEO of Hildago Group which has other subsidiaries like Soko Investments, Soko Directory, Sabi Investments, East Africa Billboards, The Team Builder Magazine and Sobike Investments.
According to Wafula, he began investing while in campus when he found a niche in milk packaging. He would use his school fees as the capital but at one time his business crumbled and he was left without tuition fees.
Wafula studied law at the University of Nairobi (UoN) but never practised it as he found it boring. According to a past article on Standard, Wafula charges up to Ksh 100k an hour for financial consultancy.
4). Caleb Amisi
Caleb Amisi is the current Member of Parliament (MP) for Saboti Constituency in Trans- Nzoia County. The first term MP is a renowned diehard ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga. Various opinion polls have indicated that he is going to recapture his seat in the 2022 polls.
Amisi is also into business and owns the luxurious Miss White Spa located opposite Yaya Centre in Nairobi. The facility is estimated to have cost a whooping Ksh 60 million capital.
It serves a moneyed clientele and has various facilities such as barbershop, nail bar, massage, steam room and sauna. Miss White Spa has approximately 30 employees including expert barbers and medical professionals.
Read More: ODM MP Caleb Amisi’s Ksh60 Million High-End Salon And Spa Launched by Raila
5). Allan Chesang
Allan Chesang is from Trans-Nzoia County and is an ally of Deputy President William Ruto. He will be on the August 2022 polls as a senatorial candidate.
Chesang is known to have deep pockets and is even thought to be among the wealthiest people in Trans-Nzoia. He divulged in a past interview that he made his first million when he represented Kenya in a table tennis tournament held in Congo Brazzaville. A French club then sought his services and paid him a handsome salary.
Chesang currently owns a chain of clubs with the name Club Blend located in Nairobi, Thika and Meru. He is also linked to Craft Lounge in Westlands and Garage Club in Thika. The entrepreneur is also operates a clearing and forwarding company called Uplift Express.
