Kenya’s fastest growing firms

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014SPECIAL ISSUE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

Profiles of 2014 winners

Insights from Survey

II BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

1 Optiven Entreprises Ltd2 Vehicle And Equipment Leasing Limited3 Shade Systems E.A Ltd4 North Star Cooling Systems Ltd5 Lean Energy Solutions Ltd6 Wotech Kenya Limited7 Pharmaken Limited8 Synermedica (Kenya) Lmited9 Novel Technologies Ea Ltd10 Aslan Adventure11 Mega Pack K Ltd12 East African Canvas Co Ltd13 Hajar Services Ltd14 Pewin Cabs15 BTB Insurance16 Bluekey Software Solutions (K) Ltd17 Ark Construction18 Digital City Ltd19 Vivek Investments Ltd20 Woodbridge Group Ltd21 Onfon Media Ltd22 Lanor Holdings Limited23 ASL Credit24 Spry Engineering Co. Ltd25 Pwani Cellular Services Ltd26 Pinnacle K Travel & Safaris27 Powerpoint Systems Ea Ltd28 Specicom Technologies Ltd29 Executive Healthcare Solutions Ltd30 Allwin Packaging Intl Ltd31 Africa Practice Ea Ltd32 Upperhill Eye & Laser Centre33 Cube Movers Limited34 Machines Technologies (2006) Ltd

35 Charleston Travel Limited36 Africa Biosystems Limited37 Impax Business Solutions38 Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd39 Elite Tools Ltd40 Mic Global Risks Nsurance Brokers Ltd41 Lantech (Africa) Limited42 Smart Brands Limited43 Care Chemists44 Stitch Masters Ltd45 Alexander Forbes Financial Services Ea Ltd46 Rongai Workshop & Transport Ltd47 Coast Industrial & Safety Supplies48 Eldohosp Pharmaceuticals49 Stile Gas Supplies Ltd50 Muranga Forwarders Limted51 Furniture Rama Ltd52 Conventional Cargo Conveyors Ltd53 Total Office Solutions Ea Ltd54 Typotech Imaging Systems55 Unique Offers Limited56 Devsons Industries Ltd57 General Cargo Services Ltd58 Jogian Interlink Limited59 Waumini Insurance Brokers60 Professional Clean Care Ltd61 XRX Technologies Limited62 Amex Auto & Industries Hardware Ltd63 Synermed Pharmaceuticals (K) Ltd64 Ndugu Transport Company65 Security World Technology Ltd66 Vintage Travel & Tours Services Ltd67 Vinep Forwarders Limited68 Dune Packaging Limited

69 Ravenzo Trading Limited70 Trinity Petroleum Limited71 Software Technologies Ltd72 Avtech Systems Ltd73 AAR Credit74 Thika Wax Works Ltd75 Eurocon Tiles Production76 Polygon Logistics Ltd77 Rushab Petroleum Limited78 Prafulchandra & Brothers Ltd79 Healthy U 2000 Ltd80 Sheffield Steel Systems Ltd81 Viro Locks Ltd82 Specialized Aluminium Renovators Ltd83 Kenbro Industries Limited84 Nairobi Enterprises Ltd85 Office Dynamics Limited86 De Ruiter East Africa Ltd87 Brollo Kenya Ltd88 Melvin Marsh International Ltd89 Sigma Supplies Ltd90 Sensations Limited91 Supreme Pharmacy Limited92 Isolutions Associations93 Kurrent Technologies Ltd94 Total Solutions Ltd95 Trident Plumbers Ltd96 Palbina Travel Ltd97 Tabaki Freight Services98 Hotel Waterbuck Limited99 Xtreme Adventures Limited100 Satguru Travel And Tours

Top 100 companies 2014

When we started the Top 100 awards in 2008, we set out to identify and reward small and medium sized

companies that were growing and going places. Seven years later, the need to nurture entrepre-neurship and develop our enterprises has never been more important.

Together with our partners KPMG, we recog-nise the key role small and medium enterpris-es play in creating jobs and generating wealth. Many mature businesses are facing different challenges, from disruptive technological ad-vances, to stiffer competition from the region and elsewhere.

SMEs, such as the ones we recognise and re-ward in the Top 100, are more nimble, more en-terprising, and often better positioned to adopt new technologies. They are an important vehi-cle for our young people to make the important transformation from job seekers to job makers, using their energy, skills and intelligence to cre-ate and grow companies that will compete and thrive in the economy of the future.

We at NMG are proud to be part of this proc-ess. As a media house we see ourselves, not just as a business, but also as facilitators and enablers, giving our audiences the information they need to make informed decisions.

To this end, the Top 100 process provides par-ticipants with conferencing, networking, mar-keting and learning opportunities. Through surveys undertaken by our partners KPMG, we have been able to establish the needs of the Top 100 companies, in areas such as corporate governance, legal and financial advice, market-ing, automation processes, taxation, national insurance law and payments, and succession planning, among others.

We watch with pride as, year after year, new companies join the competition, while others graduate, having grown their balance sheets be-yond the SME parameters. The Top 100 badge has become an important imprimatur for com-panies, a symbol of good governance and great prospects. If the Top 100 process and awards

contribute to making these companies market leaders in their fields of expertise, then we are proud to make our small contribution to grow-ing this important sector of the economy.

The Top 100 winners have done a commend-able job. They have demonstrated will power, business acumen, and embraced innovative practices to power their growth. These com-panies are the backbone of the growth we see in Kenya and in the rest of the region. They are at the heart of the Kenya Vision 2030, translat-ing macro ambitions into micro actions on the ground.

The Kenyan economy is currently experienc-ing some challenges, including terrorism, which has affected the tourism sector, but we are also seeing massive investments in transport and energy infrastructure, on top of reforms to im-prove the business environment.

With investments such as new power plants,

the standard gauge railway, new highways and pipelines, and with oil and gas discoveries in the region, a solid foundation is being laid for prosperity and a new class of entrepreneurs to create wealth and value. Like Wangari Maathai used to say: “There are great opportunities even in the most difficult of moments”.

NMG and our flagship brand, Business Dai-ly, are proud to be associated with the Top 100 Mid-Sized companies awards. We shall continue to seek knowledge that empowers businesses to make informed decisions as they define the economic landscape of the region.

I would like to congratulate Optiven, Vehi-cle and Equipment Leasing, as well as Shade Systems Ltd, the three top winners this year, as well as all the other participants and rising stars. You are all champions in waiting – that’s the bottom line.Linus Gitahi, Nation Media Group CEO

Ente≥p≥ise is what will t≥ansfo≥m ou≥ young people into job c≥eato≥s

Nation Media Group CEO Linus Gitahi. SALATON NJAU

FOUNDERS

Chief Executive Officer Linus Gitahi

Acting Group Editorial Director Tom Mshindi

Managing Editor Ochieng Rapuro | Consulting Editor Jenny Luesby

Production Editor Bobby Kiama | Photo Editor Joan Pereruan

Photos Salaton Njau

Senior Graphic Designer Gennevieve Awino Nahinga

Graphic Designer Millie Wachira

LEAD SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

PARTNERS

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

IIIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

The Kenya Top100 Survey is a proc-ess I look forward to with unbri-dled enthusiasm. In this seventh

year, I am even more convicted that our pursuit of transformation in Africa will be achieved through learning from, pro-motion, recognition and celebration of entrepreneurship.

This year, the process attracted 280 participants with 258 of these providing the three-year audited financial informa-tion required to confirm their revenue range, revenue growth, profitability, and current ratio, as well as other working capital management information re-quired to arrive at the final ranking.

To be considered for ranking, we re-quire that this information be certified by the participating company’s audi-tors, who themselves must be in good standing with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). This requirement serves a number of purposes.

Firstly, the preparation of audited financial statements provides credible information that can be used not only in this process of ranking, but also by poten-tial financiers and investors interested in supporting the business.

Businesses that prepare this informa-tion will therefore find that not only are they able to attract financing, but they may very well enjoy favourable interest rates that reduce their cost of borrowing

and support their aspirations for growth and expansion.

Secondly, an organisation that pre-pares financial statements and subjects them to a professional audit has of ne-cessity to set up appropriate accounting systems and internal controls.

These contribute to the formalization and improved governance of the busi-ness. Whilst this may appear costly in the short run, particularly in the face of com-peting demands on time and resources, the lessons shared by past participants have demonstrated that it is well worth the investment.

Improved governance provides a firm foundation and meets the thresh-old of compliance required to win trust from key stakeholders, larger customers and new markets. Ken Njoroge of Cel-lulant has travelled this transformation path from the days when he operated in Kenya, with mainly one customer, to subsequent growth leading him to across the continent.

As he told us at this year’s conference, “If the Founder is still carrying the keys to the office, perhaps you are not yet ready to grow and go to new markets.” He however added that “If you are a Top100 company, Africa is ready and waiting for you with tremendous op-portunities.” Thirdly, accounting and entrepreneurship meet at “net value”. Entrepreneurship is about identifying

an “under-served market”, innovatively investing in a value proposition to serve that market, convincing financiers and other investors to partner with you, and persuading clients and markets to choose your proposition, all at a sustain-able cash profit.

The core elements apply to private, public and social sectors: under-served, innovation, value proposition, invest-ment, financing, uptake by clients and markets, “cash profits”, sustainability.

Accounting helps an entrepreneur to determine whether they are making money, a return from their efforts. We need accounting skills in every home, every village, every country, and indeed the entire continent of Africa if we are to generate value.

Our guest speaker at the conference convinced me that there is another pro-fession that should be given greater re-spect than perhaps is the case at present. In his presentation, Billy Wilson of Sales

Guru reminded the participants that growth comes through a sales culture purposely aimed at HELPING custom-ers. This focus on helping, combined with a world-class Attitude and Activ-ity that is productive and free of energy leakages, and underpinned by Skill that is continually being developed, is what Billy called the “Sales DNA”.

Every entrepreneur must equip their business with this “Sales DNA”. You must have the belief that yours are the best products and services, that you provide value for money, that you are the best in sales, and that the customer is BETTER OFF for dealing with you.

Above all, a “No” is a request for clarification of value – it is only a “No” if you hear it four times! This belief is im-portant and will help businesses to not only generate growth, but only pursue those opportunities that deliver cash profits, not delaying payment by over 500 days!

Each year, the survey culminates in the recognition and celebration of each of the Top100 companies. Nearly 1,000 people gather in an evening of pomp and circumstance. Every ranked company getting up on stage, some with their en-tire workforce, or so it appears.

This is deliberately planned to give each company limelight, an opportunity to shine among other greats, and to cele-brate together. For creating wealth, jobs, foreign exchange earnings, paying taxes, and serving mankind, we salute you!

As we head to Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, I hope that eastern Africa will emerge with breakthroughs in entre-preneurship that enable all our people to be gainfully engaged: in worthy jobs and fulfilling livelihoods. Our future depends on it.Josphat Mwaura, CEO, KPMG East Africa

Why we celeb≥ate the t≥ansfo≥mative powe≥ of ent≥ep≥eneu≥ship

KPMG East Africa CEO Josphat Mwaura . DIANA NGILA

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

IV BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

BY ANDREW AWITI AND JENNY LUESBY

Most young businesses die within their first three years of life, and most of them on cash flow problems. Even

profitable businesses are often forced to close shop when they are unable to get their clients to pay, and end up stranded with no cash left to buy supplies or pay staff.

It is salutary then, as so many start-ups look to the country’s Top 100 most successful medium-sized businesses, and the Club 101 of homegrown Kenyan companies that have made it beyond Sh1 billion a year in revenue, to discover that 40 per cent of them still suffer from these same cash flow issues, and 81 per cent cite late payments from their customers as the main problem.

Late payments are not, in fact, a blight in Kenya alone, but the scale and breadth of the payment delays is seemingly higher than elsewhere, which matters amid mounting evidence that the more severe and unchecked the problem, the more business failures it causes.

Of more concern still is the evidence that late payments invariably cause slower job creation and even redundancies – a matter of key importance in Kenya where unemployment is running at 54 per cent, and still rising.

Detailed studies in the UK, looking at what business owners do to bridge the gaps caused by late payments, have found that more than 40 per cent of them will, in turn, pay their suppliers late, meaning that late payments trigger more late payments with a multiplying impact.

But, according to Bibby Financial Services, a full third of businesses respond by freezing recruit-

ment, and 30 per cent freeze salaries. About a fifth turn to personal and business overdraft facilities, and others borrow from family and friends or draw down personal savings.

Europe-wide, the Intrum Justitia’s European Payment Index (EPI) reports for 2014 that late payments in Europe had resulted in 40 per cent of the companies affected not hiring, a full 25 per cent cutting down on staff, and had a 3.0 to 3.1 per cent impact on revenues, equating to the cost of eight million jobs.

In 2012, the UK’s Forum for Private Business lobby group found that 16 per cent of small busi-nesses had come close to closure due to late pay-ments by their customers.

While another study by the European Com-mission this year, looking at the impact of late payments in each of Italy, Spain and Portugal, found the consequent business failures run-ning at between 7.7 per cent and 19.26 per cent of businesses.

In Kenya, where late payments are apparent-ly more endemic and more severe in the degree of lateness, the impact in job cuts, recruitment freezes and failed businesses is likely to be far higher.

Another factor that increases the vulnerabil-ity of Kenyan SMEs to failure on late payments is their narrow capital base from the start.

Most begin as shoe-string operations, funded most often, reports KPMG and Business Daily in the Top 100 survey this year, by the founders’ own savings or money – in 76 per cent of cases.

A further 15 per cent get started by loans from family, while just 25 per cent had any bank loans or overdraft to launch their ventures.

Biting cash c≥unch e≥ects ba≥≥ie≥ to Kenyan sta≥t-upsWith late payments that stand at higher than the global average and interest rates of more than 16pc, enterprises are walking a cash flow tightrope to remain in operation

Most of the companies then do draw growth capital from the commercial banks – at 66 per cent – but at this point Kenyan and East African companies are heavily handicapped versus busi-nesses elsewhere in the world.

For where the lending rates in the UK are run-ning at about 0.5 per cent, Japan at 1.5 per cent, the Czech Republic at 5.4 per cent, and China at 6 per cent, Kenyan banks declare their rates as being around 16.7 per cent - while in many cases charging up to 25 per cent on long-term loans and even up to 40 per cent, as an annualised percent-age rate, on overdraft facilities.

Such expensive borrowing places the bar far higher for Kenyan and East African companies in the levels of returns -- the need to earn on their in-vestments, just to cover their cost of borrowing.

Thus, while a Chinese business could earn a 15 per cent ROI and thrive, the same return for a Kenyan company would equate to mounting losses.

This differential in borrowing costs has seen some sectors where Kenyan companies, particu-larly where upfront costs are high, or there is a need for intensive capital investment, cannot com-pete with foreign companies, even within Kenya – with the external entrants benefiting from far cheaper borrowing.

Against this backdrop, many of the Top 100 companies speak to the importance of reinvest-ing their profits, and of the need to drive their own growth.

Certainly, it’s a slower road to growth, and one which is constantly and repetitively hampered by late payments – with profits on paper and nothing in cash when payments have not been made.

However, this year’s Top 100, as those before it, have shown that despite the many cards stacked against Kenyan SMEs financially, success can and is being won, despite every monetary hur-dle along the way.-AFRICAN LAUGHTER

Late payments have been blamed for busi-ness failures.FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

Most of the Mid-Sized firm heads fall in the middle age category. Very few fall within the youthful age band of 25-34

What certification?

1 out of 5 businesses has obtained an international certificate in the past 12 months.

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TOP

100

MID

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OMPA

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ISO certification 67%IATA certification 3%ASTA certification 3%Microsoft gold certification 2%Psychometric testing and assessing from profiles international 2% SAS 70 certified 2%NAS1 bench mark 2%The global certification 2%Sedex certification 2%National road safety ageny certification 2% Global gap certification 2%Steve award certification 2%Otherways international research and consultants certification 2%HB gold specialist certification 2% WHO certification 2%UNIGLOBE certification 2%Screen printing and graphic imaging association certification 2% CFMD certification 2%HIKVISION certification 2%

1. Competition (Fair and unfair)

45%

2. Difficulties with obtaining finance for

expansion/high cost of finance

32%

3. Insecurity in the country 19%

4. Poor customer payments/Debt

collection issues/Increase of bad debts

15%

5. Economic/political uncertainties

14%

38%

31%

30%

24%

19%

Top 5 reasons attributed to growth Top 5 business challenges faced Age of CEO

5%

23%

36%

27%

10%0%

100% Over 64

Between 55 and 64

Between 45 and 54

Between 35 and 44

Between 25 and 34

Below 255. Improvement on

customer service

4. Expansion of our business in the

market/ Acquisition

3. Increase in projects/products/product

diversification

2. Increased demand for our products/services/

increased customer base

1. Aggressive marketing

ENTERPRISE BY THE NUMBERS

67%

VWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

VI BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

BY GITUKU KIRIKA DTB HEAD OF PRODUCTS AND MARKETING

The prospect of pulling out those dog-eared Sh500 and Sh1,000 notes that have lined a hundred

pockets could be a thing of the past as Kenyan consumers increasingly turn to electronic methods to pay for goods and services.

Everywhere there are signs that Kenya is moving further towards be-coming a cashless society with the increased use of electronic payment systems and mobile money services for all types of transactions.

In one of the latest moves, as of July 1st in Nairobi, bus and matatu opera-tors, who said they lost 30 per cent of their revenue through theft and police corruption, introduced a cashless fare system. It’s now been eight years since the launch of mobile money in Kenya and a 2013 MasterCard report showed that nearly 30 per cent of consumer spending in East Africa’s largest econ-omy is cashless.

Compared to a country like Bel-gium where it’s 93 per cent, cashless payments in Kenya are still in incep-tion stage but there is huge potential for growth in this area with financial pundits saying that a greater degree of electronic payments would boost the economy partly through greater and more transparent tax collection.

In its Financial Crime Survey 2013, Deloitte East Africa listed cash theft as one of the top methods of fraud in the region. It showed about 70 per cent

of financial crimes carried out in East Africa were through cash theft making cash transactions an expensive option. In a bid to counter this, some counties such as Kisii have moved to automate their revenue collection in collabora-tion with major banks such as Diamond Trust Bank (DTB).

As the uptake of plastic money in the form of credit, debit and pre-paid cards surges and more and more small and medium sized enterprises and re-tailers move towards electronic pay-ment systems so does the ingenuity of those crooked elements determined to relieve us of our hard earned cash. So the financial institutions have to work harder to protect consumers’ money from the criminals.

EMV, a system developed by Eu-ropay, MasterCard and Visa - hence the acronym, is the globally accepted standard for secure card payments and has been proven to sharply reduce the number of card frauds.

In comparison to the more numer-ous magnetic strip cards, EMV cards have an in-built microchip to encrypt

information. This makes it considerably harder for fraudsters to copy or get ac-cess to information on the card.

When used together with a per-sonal identification number (PIN), the chip data becomes accessible and this helps to reduce cases of card fraud rather than just swiping a magnetic strip through a device (ATM or PDQ) and scribbling a signature that can be forged with relative ease.

Last year, DTB in partnership with Nakumatt launched the Nakumatt Glo-bal multicurrency prepaid card, a Mas-terCard EMV chip and PIN product, the first of its kind in the world.

So for instance, if a customer wants to pay for something in dollars (funds can be held in up to six out of eight cur-rencies), so long as there are enough funds on the card to pay for that trans-action, the funds are debited in that matching currency so avoiding confu-sion and costs of forex changes.

Should funds not be available in the matching currency wallet, monies will be debited from other wallets following a sequence set by the cardholder.

DTB helps fi≥ms stop ≥evenue leakage with digital payments

INNOVATION Bank boosts devolution with automated revenue collection

Diamond Trust Bank group chief executive officer Nasim Devji. COURTESY

BY BD REPORTER

Solid examples of how the private sec-tor (i.e micro, small and medium sized businesses), contributes to

Kenya’s economic growth are many and varied. Kenya’s estimated 7.5 milion SMEs contributed 40 per cent towards GDP in 2013, making SMEs key players in eco-nomic growth of the country.

It is generally accepted that SMEs are becoming increasingly important in terms of employment, wealth creation, and the development of innovation. However, SMEs encounter many problems and as a result, many firms do not reach their

full potential or fail to grow. In East Africa, SMEs play an important role in sustaining our economic growth. DTB has invested in SMEs and has grown lockstep with them. Experience shows that the average small business owner has a number of business functions to oversee everyday.

Even if the business employs manag-ers to handle some operational duties, the owner is ultimately responsible for how their business operates and sometimes in doing so he or she neglects some critical areas that may become a huge stumbling block in the business’ growth. Most finan-cial institutions in Kenya now recognise that the vast small and medium enterprise

market is going to be the source of future profits. Many are now redefining them-selves as SME banks and some are even implementing large change management projects to realign their structures, staff and systems to this new reality. However, lack of sufficient data and statistics on SMEs still presents constraints to deliv-ery of appropriate financial products and services to growing SMEs.

As a key contributor to the GDP growth, programmes such as the Kenya Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies founded by KPMG and Nation Media Group, that celebrates entrepreneurs who have con-tributed to wealth and job creation are

good avenues for investors, and financial partners to gather data and statistics on SMEs and come up with practical solu-tions for SMEs as data and statistics on SME is still insufficient.

There are various other financial chal-lenges that face small enterprises. Lack of access to sufficient credit is almost uni-versally cited as a key problem for SMEs. Credit constraints operate in a variety of ways in Kenya where undeveloped capi-tal market forces entrepreneurs to rely on self-financing or borrowing from friends or relatives. Lack of access to long-term credit for small enterprises forces them to rely on high cost short term finance. Experience

from banking several SMEs in the last cou-ple of years as well as feedback from past winners and participants in the Kenya Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies, indicate that the rigorous process of ensuring that interna-tionally accepted processes and systems are in place, ensures that the SMEs have an added advantage when engaging with financial institutions for credit.

Highly rated firms in the Kenya Top 100 SMEs survey are not necessarily the ones that grew their revenues by the highest margin but more about the ones that scored highly against a number of parameters thus showing growth in all aspects

Systems and p≥ocesses that ease small businesses’ access to c≥edit

Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) sponsored Kenya Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies Awards to the tune of Sh10 million. The deal saw the bank work with high-im-pact medium sized enterprises in East Africa to grow their businesses and promote them as a leading force for sustainable economic development. BD Reporter asked DTB chief executive Nasim Devji, five questions on the sponsorship.

Why did DTB sponsor the Top 100 SMEs initiative?The ultimate yardstick for success is focused on how you do business. And it comes down to three key pillars: people, processes and systems. Most SMEs excel on the people element; they have brilliant strategies and pas-sion and are driven by individuals who are super achievers; but they score poorly on processes and systems – the evidence of records and performance is rarely documented. It is usually in the mind of the business owners and this becomes a challenge when one is seeking finance from a bank. DTB recognises that it has a role to play in working with its clients to help them mitigate these issues. Programmes such as the Kenya Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies go a long way in providing a platform to facilitate this.

Why does DTB focus on SMEs?The growth of DTB has largely been supported by SMEs. In East Africa, SMEs play an important role in sus-taining our economic growth. Many banks have traditionally stayed away or struggled in banking SMEs because they are perceived as too risky. DTB started off as an SME, and travelled the SME journey to emerge among the top 10 banks in the region, our success has been driven largely by banking SMEs.

What are some of the

challenges facing SMEs in accessing finance today?In spite of the generally fast pace by which access to financial services for SME is being developed, significant segments of the SME sector do not yet benefit from the expansion and deep-ening of outreach. Small businesses lack access to capi-tal and money markets. Investors are unwilling to invest in proprietorships, partnerships or unlisted companies as risk perception about small businesses is high.

What will this programme help in addressing that problem?Participating in the Kenya Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies enables companies to learn how to be better prepared to access financing, recognising that as a bank we have a role to play in working with our clients to help them mitigate some of the issues that affect their ac-cess to finance. There are networking forums and workshops that bring companies to-gether to share their experiences, chal-lenges, successes and also help DTB get important information that will en-able the bank meet some of the issues faced by the sector.

What is DTB doing to ease SMEs access to finances they need?The forums that are organised for the Kenya Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies are also a learning experience for the bank. DTB is committed to giving back to extraordinary businesses, which have the potential to transform our indus-tries, communities and region. DTB will provide practical support to the programme’s workshops and panels, where it will educate enterprises on how to access better financing through improved processes and systems.

Financing helps SMEs follow bank’s own path to g≥eatness

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

VIIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

VIII BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

REAL ESTATE

1 Optiven Enterprises

BY JOHN GACHIRI

Optiven, the first real estate company to win the Top 100 Survey, provides a story of ramrod determination, un-yielding persistence and a rich col-lection of experiences gained over the last 15 years.

Fifteen is also the number of busi-nesses that George Wachiuri, the founder and current chief executive, has tried a hand at, but with limited success and, at times, great financial and emotional loss.

However, today, Mr Wachiuri heads a company that has earned a solid reputation in the booming real estate sector, which, while offering good op-portunities and returns, carries a real level of risk.

Even losing all his life savings to conmen in a land deal did not stop Mr Wachiuri from forming a top property firm that also won the industry award in this year’s competition.

Optiven’s main business in the real estate sector is selling serviced plots and estate developments mainly in Kitengela, Kajiado, Machakos and Eldoret towns. While it sounds sim-ple, the difference between other firms and Optiven is the focus on value ad-

dition to customers, which he says has become synonymous with Optiven.

The real estate firm puts in power lines, drills bore holes, constructs ac-cess roads, lays pipes and plants trees on all its plots.

Additionally, Optiven has a green-

ing policy that involves planting trees and grass on all its plots in arid areas. Owners are also freed from the due diligence, legal work and other im-portant, but tedious tasks carried out when buying land.

Optiven does all this leg work to

ensure that the only role the customer has is paying for the land. This has, in turn, opened more business lines for the real estate company.

“Many of our customers are now asking us to develop houses for them and to manage some of their proper-ties,” says Mr Wachiuri.

Charity and church are other pil-lars that have seen the company find favour with customers and communi-ties where they operate.

The company has a morning prayer policy and its duties as a good corpo-rate citizen include paying fees for high school students, particularly those that do not make it to the national or top tier schools yet excel when given op-portunities. Optiven also has an in-ternship programme for university students.

The firm’s strategic plan is to ex-pand its presence to 20 counties and have a staff of 15,000 employees within the next five years.

Job creation is particularly impor-tant for Mr Wachiuri, who says that the industry presents an enormous opportunity due to the growing de-mand for housing, big population, and the infrastructure projects coming up under Vision 2030.

Fi≥m ≥ides ≥eal estate wave to win 2014 su≥vey

Optiven Enterprises Limited chief executive officer George Wachiuri during the interview with the Business Daily at his Nairobi office on Monday. His company was declared overall winner of the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies survey. SALATON NJAU

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

IXWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

Over and above the six re-vered Ps in marketing, coupled with other vir-

tues of good business practices, technology has over the recent years earned its place as one of the distinct ingredients of hav-ing a successful business.

It not only complements marketing efforts, but has been proven to be one of the most effective ways of enhanc-ing efficiency in the business process, thereby cutting down on time and related expenses that characterised how business was done in the past.

However, it is a fact that not all business owners and manag-ers are Information and Com-munication Technology ex-perts, a fact that has seen most businesses in Kenya yet to tap into the full potential of technol-ogy as a business tool.

Furthermore, technology has been changing so rapidly to the extent that systems that were much touted a decade ago, may now be tittering on the brink of being declared obsolete.

For others, the cost of acquir-ing the technology solutions re-mains prohibitive, forcing the owners to continue operating inefficient business models at a time when competition from new market entrants is at its peak.

It is with this realisation that Safaricom Business was estab-lished with the aspiration to help businesses meet their core objectives by offering bespoke technology solutions that meet the specific needs of the respec-tive organisations.

Safaricom Business does this by leveraging on its robust infrastructure network, cloud technology and affordable inter-net, thereby earning Safaricom Business the title the Partner of Choice for Business.Biashara Smart… speaking to SMEs’ hearts

This is a partnership be-tween Kenya’s leading bank, the KCB Group and Safaricom which is the leading integrat-ed communications service provider.

Biashara Smart was borne with a view to addressing two common problems that SMEs have; lack of access to credit and

tailor-made financial services that suit small businesses, and low adoption of ICT in SMEs operations.

It comes as a suite of servic-es that can be accessed conven-iently through the USSD Code from a Safaricom number.Use cutting-edge software without owning itOwning software not only comes with the initial cost, but the need for regular updates and licensing fees, so that you can continue deriving the most from the software.

In response to these chal-lenges, Safaricom Business has introduced Cloud SAAS (Cloud Software as a Service) which gives SMEs access to a Website, professional email, HR Payroll software and ac-counting software at competi-tive prices since users will only have to pay for the solutions ac-cording to the specific needs of the business.

At a time when internet up-take is on the increase, a website is a great marketing and refer-ence tool, while email makes you accessible to your clients.

The accounting software; Sage Pastel, makes it possible for SMEs to generate profes-sional financial reports which they can use to borrow loans from financial institutions, thereby making the work of in-house and outsourced ac-countants much easier.

Also in the suite is a payroll solution, Cleanbill, designed to ease and professionalise payroll management by automatically tabulate all statutory deduc-tions from the employees and keeping relevant records.M-Pesa for BusinessAs Kenya evolves into a CashL-ite economy, Safaricom Business offers the government as well as privately owned businesses the option of receiving payments and disbursing funds through the revolutionary mobile money solution M-Pesa.

This option of payment not only offers security to both cus-tomers and government/ busi-nesses but also cuts down cash handling costs, which leads to increased savings in the oper-ating costs.

- BD REPORTER

Helping fi≥ms use technologyto achieve goals Representatives from Vehicle and Equipment Leasing Limited

pose with their trophy as Industrialisation and Enterprise Devel-opment secretary Adan Mohamed (third right) looks on during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night at the Carnivore. SALATON NJAU

ASSET LEASING

2 Vehicle and Equipment Leasing Limited

X BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

MANUFACTURING

3 Shade Systems

BY SANDRA CHAO-BLASTO

His is a story of five years of de-termination to realise an entre-preneurial dream – for even be-

fore his 30th birthday, Eric Kinoti has successfully established a tent making venture that has emerged among the top three small and medium enterprises in the country.

Shade Systems East Africa manufac-tures and supplies tents and shades for clientele across the region.

“Participating in the survey for the first time and emerging among the top

three goes to validate the business, im-proving the brand visibility, which makes me want to work harder,” he says.

Earlier in the year, he was listed by Forbes magazine as one of the 30 most promising young entrepreneurs in Af-rica. It is this listing that has made him think of expanding his business to other countries in the continent.

“It was unexpected and came as a shock to me, but that has made me think of the larger African market as a whole. We plan on expanding to Central and West Africa in the next two years,” he adds

Even so, Mr Kinoti admits that set-ting up a manufacturing company in the country requires hard work to balance all the liquidity, working space and human resource issues necessary to successfully running the business.

When he started out, he only had Sh60,000 from his savings, which was

not enough to venture into the tent mak-ing business. Lacking collateral to borrow from established financial institutions, he was forced to find seed capital from shylocks. “I would not advise anyone to go down the same route I went, because I had to pay back more than the Sh2 million within a year. If you are not able to pay the high interests rates, you can even lose your business to the shylocks,” he explains. With time he became wiser, reinvesting the profits he made back into the business and leveraging some of the company’s shares to fund his expansion plans. He has also moved his business

premises over the years as he sought to establish himself within the industry. Initially, he had set up his investment in Ngara, before moving to Kipande Road. Now, he has set up a factory in Industrial Area and is renting out office space at Design Centre in Westlands.

The biggest challenge for the tent maker has been availability of raw ma-terials, some of which he sources locally and others he imports, largely from Eu-rope, to convert into shades and tents. Today, Shade Systems is one of the lead-ing canvas and PVC tent manufacturers in the region, specialising in accommo-

dation, luxury, camping, and exhibition tents. The company also supplies spe-cially designed medical and relief tents to global non-governmental organisations working in the region.

Additionally, it provides shades for parking spaces, balconies, and garden umbrellas in addition to the canopies and tarpaulins that are popular with truckers. The company’s clients come from as far afield as Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Congo, Burundi and South Su-dan. Mr Kinoti is quick to note that tents are a fast moving product, because of the increasing demand among corporates to have customised and branded tents and the fact that more people are looking to host events outside buildings.

With the left over material from his tent making venture, Mr Kinoti opted to setup a bag making company, which specialises in customized school, gym, laptop and safari bags. His enterprise portfolio also includes a company that offers professional home and office clean-ing services. According to the entrepre-neur, turning a startup into a multi-bil-lion shilling venture requires persistence, even in times when the business does not seem to be making profits.

“You have to focus on what you want to achieve, despite the capital vulnerabil-ity that you will experience in the first few years and improve on the quality of service that you deliver to your clients,” he explains.

Winne≥ ≥ises to the top putting shade ove≥ people’s heads

Shade Systems East Africa Limited staff receive a trophy from Industrialisation and Enterprise Development secretary Adan Mohammed (centre) and KPMG East Africa CEO Josphat Mwaura (right). FILE

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

4 North Star Cooling Systems

BY ANNIE NJANJA

Kishore Reddy, the founder of North Star Cooling Systems, came to Kenya by chance.

He had been sent by his employer from India to oversee a contract in Zanzibar, when a friend asked him to stop over in Kenya.

The friend tried to talk him into staying because Kenya lacked profes-sionals with his area of expertise. He is an air conditioning engineer, who designs, installs and maintains cool-ing systems in buildings.

In 1995, he took on his friend’s chal-lenge and immediately secured a job with an air conditioning company in Nairobi, winning air conditioning set-up contracts from reputable compa-nies that were building headquarters and offices in Kenya. His skills meant he kept drawing in work.

“We offered a huge challenge to big-ger companies, and our professional-ism and quality of work kept winning us clients.”

However, after 10 years, he quit his job on doctor’s instructions and packed his bags, planning to return to India.

“The shareholders were heartbroken by the news that I was leaving, but life had to go on,” he said.

But as fate would have it, his India return was not to be. Reddy, together with a partner, decided to give entre-preneurship a shot and in February 2005, they founded North Star Cool-ing Systems.

“Starting the company was not planned and it took a lot of convincing from my partner. Once again, I started from the scratch by informing clients and friends that I had decided to stay and start a company,” he said.

Three days after diving into busi-ness, North Star Cooling Systems secured a contract to install air con-ditioning and cooling systems at the Nakumatt Supermarket in Kisumu. With the contract signed just three days before the opening of the branch, they had to work day and night and managed to deliver everything on time. Happy with the results, Naku-matt Holdings chose to keep North Star as their premier consultants whenever similar projects came up.

From a borrowed workspace at a friend’s office, Reddy managed to keep

the business flourishing for years.Progressively, the company secured

bigger and more challenging tenders, among them setting up the air condi-tioning and ventilation systems at the 15,000 square feet ice skating rink at the Panari Sky Centre.

“The cooling systems we installed ensure that the ice does not melt at any time. I remain very proud of that project, because it made people see the technical capability North Star ap-plies,” said Reddy. After one-and-half years in a partnership, Reddy was left on his own. “My partner opted out,as

he felt that I had gained confidence and was capable of doing everything by myself, arguing that he was dormant and nothing much would change,” says the 45-year-old.

By the start of 2006, the company had moved to Industrial Area and employed 20 people, a number that has now risen to 75. The firm has also relocated to Shiv Business Park in Mlolongo.

Currently, the company is work-ing on eight projects that include air conditioning and mechanical venti-lation installation at Hilton Airport Hotel and Lazizi Premier Hotel, a HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) project at Two Rivers Lifestyle Centre, and at the National Public Health Centre HIV/TB microbi-ology laboratory building at Kenyatta Hospital Campus.

“The quality products and techni-cal expertise at North Star enable us to deliver satisfactorily and to work together with world leaders in tech-nology. For instance, we are the local representatives of Carrier Corporation and Toshiba Technologies,” he said.

The opportunities in the market are endless, Reddy says, more so because of the company’s emphasis on internal training and pride in being the go-to company in air conditioning setup and maintenance.

Ent≥ep≥eneu≥ who cooled his way to g≥eatness

Representatives from North Star Cooling Systems Limited re-ceive a trophy from Safaricom corporate affairs director Nzi-oka Waita (second right) during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Com-panies gala night.FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

XII BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

Kurrent Technologies Ltd. (KTL) is one of Kenya’s leading integrated Engineering, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) consulting companies. We provide these services in Sub-Saharan African countries to the satisfaction of our discerning Clients. We invest in our people, systems and technology to provide an unmatched level of service to the energy and mining sectors. We are committed to creating, enhancing

and maintaining Client relationships built on a foundation of trust and excellence.

KTL CEO, Eng. James N. Mwangi receiving the award for being in the top 100 Mid-sized

companies 2014/2015.

CEO, Eng. Mwangi (c) COO, Mr. Sanjay Gandhi (r) and Finance Officer, Mr. James Kibet (l) poss for a photo with the award and certificate for being in the top 100 Mid-sized companies 2014/2015.

TYPES OF PROJECTS HANDLED• Exploration and production sites, • Petroleum terminals and depots (including tank farm and tank-

age, bottom and top loading systems, metering systems, piping and pumping systems and fire protection systems, buildings, sheds etc.)

• LPG depots/terminal/filling plants, • Lube Oil blending plants, • Product Blending Systems, • Service and filling stations/Retail outlets, • Instrumentation and control systems, • Power generation plants (thermal and coal) • Renewable energy (wind, solar and geothermal) • Power transmission lines, • Cross country petroleum pipelines, • LNG plants, • Firefighting systems.

ENGINEERING• Project planning and feasibility studies • Sustainability studies • Field investigation and surveys; maps • Architectural services • Conceptual, developed and detailed engineering design • Preparation of tender documents • Evaluation of bids • Construction supervision • Project/program management • Quality management • Construction management • Cost and financial management • Contract management • Commissioning and decommissioning • Valuation servvices • Technical due diligence/appraisals • Failure/forensic investigation

• Technical training • Risk analysis and management (Hazard Operability studies

(HAZOPS) and Process Hazard analysis (PHA), etc. • Technical assistance • Institutional development

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT • HSE Legal Compliance • HSE Management System Development • Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis • HSE Auditing • HSE Risk Assessment • Environmental and social impact assessments studies

SAFETY AND FIRE PROTECTION• Fire risk assessments including firefighting equipment reliability; • Contractor Safety Management; • Motor Vehicle Safety Management; • TapRooT® incident investigation and root cause analysis;• Permit-To-Work System development.

TRAINING The company provides a variety of specialized training courses for the energy and manufacturing sector;

In Kenya, the company is licensed by the NEMA (Ministry of Environment), DOSHS and NITA (Ministry of Labor) as a training services provider;

Kurrent Technologies Ltd. is licensed by the IADC in the USA as an accredited HSE Training Services Provider for the Upstream Oil and Gas Sector.

AUTOMATION • Design and specification for full automation of metering systems. • Design and specification for a terminal automation sys-tems and

security systems. • Design and specification for a tank gauging systems.

Our Portfolio of Services

XIIIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

BY KIARIE NJOROGE

In 2006, Lean Energy Solu-tions was an operation run from home. Fast forward

eight years and it is ramping up to regional expansion, having recently bagged its first cross-border contract in Tanzania.

Initially started as a consul-tancy to help companies improve their productivity, the founder, Dinesh Tembhekar, quickly dis-covered an even more lucrative niche: helping companies reduce their energy consumption.

In a country where energy often accounts for 30 per cent or more of manufacturers’ costs, the firm was poised for a rapid takeoff. The virtually untapped field has since become the its core business, propelling it onto the list of the fastest growing com-panies in the country, where it has now become a regular feature, having topped the list last year.

At the heart of the company’s operations is the production of briquettes from coffee husks and bagasse, the by-product of sugar-cane after the juice is extracted. Muhoroni Sugar and Sasini sup-ply the materials used to make the briquettes.

The briquettes are then used to fire up boilers to produce steam that is sold to companies at sub-sidised rates. So far, the company has converted eight boilers from electricity, with the latest being a contract with soft drinks giant Pepsi in Tanzania. Other buyers have included Ruiru-based Spin-ners and Spinners, Kisii Bottlers, Kisumu’s Equator Bottlers, Fla-mingo Tiles, and Meru Central Dairy Co-operative.

“We give a guarantee that once we convert your boiler, you’ll see a reduction to 25 per cent of the cost of energy you used to pay,” said the company’s administrative officer, Moses Ndirangu. The steam is also being used to sterilise medical equipment by pharmaceutical companies - with Universal Cor-

poration Kikuyu Pharmaceutical Company having been the first company to hire the services of the firm – for fixing dyes by tex-tile companies and for boiling syrup for the manufacturing of beverages.

Mr Tembhekar’s mission has been to combine turning a profit with preserving the envi-ronment, using briquettes that are eco-friendly and help reduce the amount of carbon monoxide associated with petroleum prod-ucts.

“I was inspired to help people use green energy because of high fuel costs and the constant worry of environmental degradation”, Mr Tembhekar said in a previous interview. The company remains bullish, now targeting the set up of operations in neighbouring countries where similar oppor-tunities abound. “We are looking at expanding to the wider East Af-rican region in places like Uganda and South Sudan, once peace and tranquillity have been restored,” said Mr Ndirangu.

Perhaps more exciting is a plan to enter the mass market with charcoal briquettes. This will see the company diversify from its current set up where it depends on large companies as clients.

The briquettes, dubbed ‘lean makaa, will be produced from charcoal dust mixed with saw-dust which is then compressed. The firm says this provides a better and cheaper alternative to charcoal. “The good thing about it is that it lights for longer and is cheaper than ordinary makaa (charcoal). It also has very small ash content. We are actually building a plant in Maai Mahiu for that,” said Mr Ndirangu.

This will potentially push up the company’s employee num-bers, which currently stand at nearly 400. Besides energy re-duction, Lean Energy also con-ducts energy audits, training in energy management and air conditioning.

Saving ene≥gy p≥opels fi≥m to sit among g≥eats

ENERGY CHAMPION

5 Lean Energy Solutions

Overall winner of the Mid-sized Companies 2013 edition Dinesh Tembhekar, manag-ing director of Lean Energy Solutions, with Novel Tech-nologies executive director Margaret Gitonga during the Nation Media Group Top 100 Forum at the Strathmore Business School in April.FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XIV BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

WATER SERVICES

6 Wotech Kenya Ltd

BY EVELYN SITUMA

In just one year, Wotech has man-aged to move from 13th position as a new entrant in the Top 100 busi-

ness rankings to number six overall. The water solutions service provider says the rise into the top 10 has not been by chance. “We are focused, and this is what has helped us move from number 13 to six in the Top 100,” said Dhaval Gandhi, executive director.

Wotech has always worked to, and kept to, clear financial and strategic

plans. It prepares a balance sheet eve-ry month, instead of periodically, every three or six months. It also ensures that it finalises every aspect of planning by 5th of each month, which includes as-sessing its present position and future growth direction.

“You can’t find many things glori-fied here, but internally we are very strong,” said Mr Gandhi, referring to the company office on Mpesi Lane, Westlands.

Last year, the company’s turnover stood at over Sh70 million. Started in 2009, Wotech has attracted a lot of attention for excelling as an industry leader. Winning this year’s technology and innovation award during the Top 100 survey was a plus.

Wotech was feted for a water project in Kitui that involved bore hole drilling and water distribution 10kms away. It incorporated a mobile payment water

vending kiosk in the project.Wotech’s impressive business model

has also attracted a lot of interest from strategic investors. “Seven to eight pri-vate equity funds have approached us saying our business is good and they would like to help us in expansion, but we declined,” said Mr Gandhi.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) also approached the company to list, but it says it is in no hurry.

“We had a lengthy discussion, but I don’t think we are ready to go to NSE at the moment,” said Mr Gandhi.

Wotech has instead depended on

independent financing. “If I decide to close this company today, nobody will follow us claiming pending debts,” he said.

The water solution provider’s finan-cial discipline is enshrined in its com-pany policies. Wotech doesn’t believe in paying interest to anyone. Thus, it abstains from taking credit. To ensure the company is not tempted to borrow, the firm always insists on deposit pay-ments for projects.

“The third thing is we don’t jump too much. We could have increased our product offering and expanded the com-

pany, but we haven’t,” he said.Mr Gandhi is, however, optimistic

that they might make an entry into the stock market in December 2016, when he plans to undertake a massive expan-sion programme. This will include drill-ing bore holes and unveiling other prod-uct lines. Meantime, from March next year, Wotech will launch solar water pumps, and is finalising expansion plan into other African countries and also Asia.

Wotech’s biggest strength, he said , is its employees. “As far as technical com-petence is concerned, we are not chal-lenged,” he said. He has 28 permanent employees. “We are like a family. Poach-ing my employees is next to impossible. People have tried and failed. Employees feel this is their company.”

Each employee has assigned roles and responsibilities, which have served to motivate and keep them focused at work. Mr Gandhi has also invested in continuous staff training. Each year, he sends three workers to India for training.

Wotech has four directors - Jayesh Nagrecha, David Ngugi, Sood Dandi and Mr Gandhi. Mr Gandhi is the main shareholder and is in charge of daily operations.

Mr Nagrecha also serves as the fi-nance director, while Mr Ngugi is the man behind strategies and business foresight.

Wate≥ fi≥m eyes NSE listing afte≥ Top 100 honou≥s

Wotech Kenya Limited officials receive a trophy from Safaricom corporate affairs director Nzioka Waita (centre) during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night.FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

Mr. Samson Njera (Left, CFO General Cargo Services Ltd) receiving their Award During the Top 100 Mid Sized Companies Gala Dinner at Carnivore Restaurant Nairobi.

XVWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

The Directors, Management and staff of the Hebatullah Bros. Ltd, have worked tirelessly to make this achievement of Hebatullah Bros. Ltd. As the leader in building glass since 1930 in Kenya.

Hebatullah Bros. ltd. has diversified over the years with a single motto of improving and contributing to the economy of Kenya, which has lead to investing in the manufacturing sector so as to promote the vision of buy Kenya build Kenya. They have diversified into Aluminium Fabrication and manufacturing of aluminum profiles with specialization in structural walling and curtain walling systems for their newly developed skyscrapers. They are continuing

effortlessly to improve and develop systems to contribute towards the booming construction industry in our country.

Hebatullah Bros. Ltd is one of the leading importers of high quality glass which is the spine of their business and they also do steel fabrication specializing in doors, windows grill works.

Hebatullah also specializes in toughened glass shower, cubicles laminated glass, structural glazing windscreens, automobile glass for all type of vehicles, Toughened glass furniture and cabinets / table tops / display counters and many other varieties of quality glass furniture

Paper & Board of wide range suitable for printing industries is also their specialization.

They are able to achieve and grow only because of support from their esteemed customers and satisfaction of service provided over the years.

HEBATULLAH BROTHERS LIMITEDClearly the best

XVI BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

PHARMACEUTICALS

8 Syner-Medica (Kenya) Limited

BY SIMON CIURI

In 1996, a middle aged man wanted to venture into the health sector, in a bid to explore entrepreneurship

that had taken a long time to mature. For Dipak Bhatti, the chairman of Syn-er–Med Pharmaceutical Limited, it has been a desire that has paid off.

With an initial capital outlay of Sh100,000, he set up a business in Nairobi acting as a marketing and distribution chain for global medicine

manufacturers. The early funds went into establishing infrastructure and hiring the company’s first employees with a background in medicine: Mr Bhatti studied business and market-ing at university.

“Syner-Med was incorporated in 1996 with a vision to attain leader-ship in the healthcare sector; from the beginning itself, we adopted “customer-oriented, efficiency, and employee achievement” as the cor-porate philosophy and because of this the group (Syner-Med and Syn-er-Medica) ranks amongst the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in the region,” said Mr Bhatti.

“The health sector in Kenya is one of the sectors that have experienced remarkable development in recent years,” he said

The company logic has been to sup-port global pharmaceutical manufac-turers in meeting the pressures they face, and increase affordability and

access, without diminishing innova-tion and quality. In 2001, significant changes were made to the company’s management, structure, mission and objectives.

A new vision to provide expanded healthcare solutions across a broader spectrum initiated a journey of phe-nomenal growth. The company has since grown from annual sales of $240,000 to over $7.5 million.

“Our product range expanded from two products in 2001 to 130 products registered and marketed in Kenya in 2012 and our portfolio is continuing to develop as we source new innovations and widen our market reach,” said the

company. A strong clientele base, both locally and internationally, has helped Mr Bhatti’s products penetrate nearly all hospitals and health centres across East Africa.

The company’s clients include Ken-yatta National Hospital, Kenya Medical Suppliers Association, the Department of Defence, Moi Referral Hospital, Aga Khan and Gertrude’s hospitals, among many others. In Kenya, all Syner-Med’s products are approved for quality by the Ministry of Health and the relevant agencies.

Mr Bhatti’s love for Kenya dates back to his childhood when his father worked with Kenya Airways .

“The suburbs were friendly and inevitably gave me the premonition that the coast was clear for me to in-vest in future,” he said in an earlier interview with the Business Daily. With its head office in the UK, Syner-Med sources most of its drugs from India, South Korea, Switzerland and the Netherlands, where its major as-sociates are based.

“Kenya has come of age and the business outlook is up, helped by a vi-brant technology sector and progress in key areas such as freedom of expres-sion,” said Mr Bhatti

“We have made good progress: the awards we have won testify to the trust we have won among our custom-ers, not only in Kenya, but across the globe,” he said.

Syner-Med also runs a medical tourism facility at Mara Engai Indian Ocean Retreat in the heart of Kilifi town on the Kenyan coast. The facil-ity boasts a tourist resort and mainly serves visitors who fall sick while on holiday. The company also runs a men-torship programme that focuses on individuals pursuing pharmaceutical courses in universities. The challenges have been there in running the busi-ness. But the company cites team work and the judgments of the directors and customers, as the key factors that have enabled its growth.

Its goal is now to employ at least 400 people both directly and indirectly in East Africa in the next two years.

Business that g≥ew p≥omoting access to wo≥ld class dugs

Syner-Medica (K) Limited staff pose with their trophy during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. FILE

HEALTH

7 Pharmaken

BY SANDRA CHAO-BLASTO

In 2006, Samier Muravvej, a dentist, and Leonard Njeru, a biochemist - both graduates from the University

of Nairobi - decided to open a business in the medical field.

With the former working as the chief executive and the latter as the market-ing director, they set up Pharmaken Lim-ited in Nyali, Mombasa, starting out as a pharmaceutical company importing medical supplies from abroad under their brand name.

“With time, however, we decided to diversify to supplying everything within the healthcare system. Since Samier is a dentist it was easy to set out and establish our brand there, because we were well aware of the dental material required,” said Mr Njeru.

The eight-year-old company has been able to establish a steady market throughout the country providing medi-cal equipment and consumables like sy-ringes and gloves, as well as materials used by dentists. It also supplies hospi-tal beds, ultrasounds and ambulances.

With their first participation, the firm has emerged among Kenya’s top ten fast-est growing medium sized companies, and the only Mombasa based company in the listings.

“We are looking to grow, and partici-pating in the survey was a way for us to not only create visibility, but also show

the good structures on which the busi-ness is built, being able to open up our books,” Mr Muravvej explained.

In addition to being ranked seventh in the annual survey, Pharmaken emerged as the best company in the health cat-egory. The ranking is the result of the good business year the duo has had after

successfully supplying Machakos with 70 ambulances. “When the national gov-ernment devolved some of its functions to the counties, we decided to run with it and establish as many partnerships as we could. Machakos put up an open tender for the ambulances, which we applied for and were successfully able

to meet, with the largest single supply of ambulances,” said Mr Njeru.

According to the chief executive, their continuing challenge has been the unreg-ulated briefcase pharmaceutical opera-tions that bring in all kinds of products whose quality has not been validated. “Most of them go to China and fill their suitcases with stuff from the black mar-ket, which has heavily undercut prices and makes it difficult for legitimate busi-nesses to compete and remain sustain-ably profitable” said Mr Njeru.

It is with this in mind that the duo has now decided to venture into manufactur-ing - to not only create employment, but also to have full control of the quality of the products that they supply.

“At the moment, we import most of our products and now we want to go into manufacturing in the next year so that we can be able to control the whole proc-ess,” said Mr Njeru.

The medical supplies company is also looking to partner with more counties in a bid to improve healthcare across the country. “Even before we go regional, there is huge potential within the coun-ties that we need to exploit, because we have only partnered with two so far, and as we continue to grow, hopefully in the next five years, we will be able to list an IPO,” said Mr Muravvej.

Two men who saw wealth in a healthy Kenya

Pharmaken Limited staff receive their trophy from Diamond Trust Bank CEO Nasim Devji (centre) during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XVIIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

XVIII BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

9 Novel Technologies

BY OKUTTAH MARK

The IT firm that automated the Judiciary, Novel Technologies (E.A.) Ltd, has once again made

it to the list of Kenya’s Top-100 mid-sized companies in 2014.

As a provider of information and communication technology solutions across East Africa, Novel Technologies was incorporated in 2004 and has since transformed information technology systems across corporations, institu-tions, and government departments.

The firm, which started with just three employees, has grown to 22 em-ployees in Nairobi, 6 in Kampala and 15 casual workers.

One of its high points was winning a contract to implement an E-Court Management system for the Judici-ary, under a World Bank financed con-

tract. The system was implemented in Milimani Law Courts, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. It au-tomates the judicial process in a court by recording the proceedings of court sessions and capturing evidence as it is presented.

“The recording of court procedures

is captured electronically and converted into digital court transcripts, which can be accessed by judicial officers through an E-court Management platform us-ing IT systems. Lawyers for litigants can acquire case procedures and tran-scripts on DVD’s and can playback,” Lawrence Gitonga, the founder and

managing director of Novel Technolo-gies told the Business Daily. He added that this has enabled the efficient and effective delivery of justice, at the same time ensuring the quick dispensation of pending and emerging cases.

This project also saw Novel Technol-ogies bag Stevie’s Silver Award from the

International Business Awards, USA.With a suite of solutions and prod-

ucts, the IT firm says it specialises in offering personalised approaches, and guarantees that each of its customers receives the company’s full attention and support on the way to success.

“We firmly believe any solution is incomplete without a proper support strategy. The professional members of staff comprise of electronic engineers and computer systems professionals and consultants,” said Mr Gitonga.

Novel Technologies has expanded significantly in the last few years, in size and in breadth, with full time op-erational offices in Kenya and Uganda. “We are currently refining our strategic plan, but we are going regional,” Mr Gitonga added.

Novel’s seed capital was from family savings , however Mr Gitonga says the firm has plans in the medium term to list at the Nairobi Security Exchange, NSE, but said they need to overcome some challenges first.

Before forming Novel, Lawrence, a software and systems analyst with over 20 years’ experience, was ICT manager with Lonrho Africa Plc, based in Nai-robi, and responsible for operations across 10 African countries.

IT fi≥m that flies on the wings of automation

Novel Technologies EA Limited staff pose with their trophy during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XIXWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

TRAVEL

10 Aslan Adventures Ltd

BY ISABELLA MUKUMU

Aslan Adventures was a dream that in 2006 saw Neena Jabbal quit her job in a travel agency, after 15 years, to start her own tour and travel company.

Despite a shaky start, Neena was able to balance management issues as well as be in charge of sales and marketing, all by herself.

“It was hard to work alone and that’s when I brought in someone to deal with the travel department, as I worked on the tours department,” she said.

Fortunately, the climate was with her during a period when the tourism industry was booming, with data from the Kenya Tourism Board showing 1.6

million tourists visited the country that year. The following year was also a booming season with two million tourists bringing in Sh65.4 billion, a 11.6 per cent growth in tourism earn-ings from the previous year.

This helped Neena move her com-pany into bigger office space and in-crease her staff numbers to six. In 2008, she registered Asian Adven-tures as a limited company.

The company now deals with in-bound and out-bound safaris that are specially designed to the client’s needs across destinations in Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

With time, the company earned the trust of many who have taken up their services in the tours and travel industry, an aspect they attribute to referrals from their customers.

“Like most businesses, we were

hit hard in 2008, and although it took time to recover from the effects of the 2008 post-election violence, we still made it through,” she said, adding that such setbacks during the first five years of a startup are very damaging, especially to small entrepreneurs.

This year, however, Aslan Adven-tures registered Sh90m in turnover and was among the Top Ten list of the 2014 TOP 100 Mid-sized companies annual awards by the Business Daily in partnership with KPMG, coming

in at position number 10. This has come as good news to Neena, who says despite it being one of the lowest performing years in her career - due to the slump in the tourism industry - she has cause to celebrate.

“Being nominated for this award gives the company leverage in this industry that has so much competi-tion,” she said, adding that getting such an award builds a company’s portfolio.

She now hopes to gain the trust of

new clients and attract large organi-sations for their adventure safaris, in line with the company’s expan-sion plans.

She is also hopeful of a better sea-son ahead for the tourism industry, which has suffered various blows this year, with the Ebola threat in Africa being the biggest hurdle they cur-rently face.

Six other tour companies made it to the list of Top 100 companies this year.

Adventu≥e t≥ips that got woman a seat among sta≥s

Aslan Adventures Limited officials pose with their trophy during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night at the Carnivore. FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd (KBSM) has once again beaten the odds and made to the list of Kenya’s Top 100 Mid-sized companies, just as it did as it did in the 2013.

The ranking in the Top-100 has not come easily for KBSM, given the volatile Kenya’s transport sector.

KBSM have scored highly since their rise from the ashes of the former KBS, when they started off with only 12 franchised buses.

Today, they have over 270 buses owned by investors (franchisees), who have invested close to Sh1 billion in the reborn company. KBSM employs over 856 staff and carries over 100,000 passengers per day.

KBSM’s revenues have been growing at an annual rate of 18 to 20 per cent.

“The brand has enjoyed immense goodwill from the public,” said KBSM finance manager Joseph Wangalwa.

“Our success is derived from collaboration between franchisees working with us, our staff and the board.”

To remain afloat, KBSM employs a structured, prudent, experienced and

professional management team.To maintain its growth, KBSM is eyeing

expansion outside of Nairobi County, in order to fill in a gap in other cities and towns which hardly enjoy services of an organised bus service.

Other towns almost exclusively rely on 14-seater matatus for town service.

“We will now eye county transport services relying on our technical and infrastructure capacity to manage a professionally managed urban public transport service,” added Mr Wangalwa..

The bus franchise model has made KBSM a powerful brand. Commuters enjoy a safe and clean ride, while bus owners get high level technical advice on bus operations. They also enjoy shared services, such as IT solutions and the automatic fare collection using Abiria Card in partnership with KCB and Tap-to-Pay.

Using its innovative staffing agency model, franchisees and their crew will soon enjoy customized employment bureau services in line with NTSA regulations.

Its driver training school is now equipped with new vehicles to meet the ever increasing demand using its new curriculum. In the event that an accident occurs, its insurance agency is equipped to investigation effectively to mitigate risk.

“At KBSM we operate from a purpose built depot with facilities to clean, park and repair mechanical and body conditions of our buses,” said Mr Wangalwa.

Kenya Bus Service Management bounces back to more glory

By MILLICENT MWOLOLO >>> mmwololo@ke.nationmedia.com

KBSM employs over 856 staff and carries over 100,000 passengers per day.

1. Franchising2. Private Hire3. Contract Hire4. Excursions

5. Staff Transport6. School Transport7. City Commuter Service8. Inter City Service

BUSES MEAN BUSINESSWe Kenya Bus Service Management offers the following services

• Vehicle Servicing• Vehicle Washing• Vehicle Parking• Training Road Crews

• Transit Advertising• Breakdown Services• Insurance Services

OTHER SERVICES

Kenya Bus Service Training SchoolP. 0 Box 41001-00100, NairobiMobile : 0720332171/ 0717207999

Email: info@kenyabus.netWebsite: www.kenyabus.net

Managing Director Mr. Edwins Mukabanah

(seated), Standing from (L-R)

Mr. Hannington Egalla ( Depot Officer), Mr.

Elias Omondi ( Operations

Manager), Mr. Joseph Wangalwa (Finance

Manager), Mrs. Phyllis Barasa (PA TO MD) & Mr. Edward Mwaro (Staffing Manager)

abiriaabiria

BREAKDOWN SERVICES

XX BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

It received accolades for being the champion in fi nancial services and was ranked at position 15 overall – out of 100.

“It took long to be recognized but we

are grateful for the honour,” said one of the fi rm’s directors during an interview at their offi ces in Nairobi.

When the announcement was made, they were “ecstatic, pleased and deeply honoured” but the management was “surprised that we had won after waiting for so long.”He said they believe they have the best solutions in the industry and off er the best services.

They therefore hope to henceforth exceed the service levels that they have attained so far.

The directors believe the award is a confi rmation that insurance brokers have won the respect that they deserve.

It is not by coincidence that many clients have been with the fi rm for more than a decade. There are those who have stuck with BTB for 14 years or more, testimony that they are being served well.

“They stay because of the excellent

service we off er them,” said the director. “We are risk management professionals and through our staff compliment of 50, we attend to clients’ insurance needs in Kenya, Uganda and

BTB Insurance Brokers’ role in the fi nancial services sector has fi nally been recognized. The innovative

brokerage fi rm was declared the winner in the fi nancial services category during this year’s celebration of the Top 100 mid-size fi rms in Kenya.

Tanzania.Buoyed by this success, the insurance

brokerage fi rm now eyes the Rwanda and Malawi markets where it plans to put up shop soon.

By EVANS ONGWAE >>> eongwae@ke.nationmedia.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP 100 MID-SIZED COMPANIES 2014

BTB Insurance Brokers feted for off ering quality services to clients

According to the director, the Top 100 award has motivated his staff “because it approves of our work. It is a morale booster for our staff .”

The fi rm’s bosses are optimistic that

since BTB has now joined the Top 100 Club, government agencies will give them a chance as suppliers. In the past, BTB has not made any breakthrough with its tender application but the management is hopeful that they have found the key to unlock opportunities previously unavailable to them.

Other than the possibility of winning government contracts, BTB expects to attract more clients.

Service is BTB’s key selling point and this, the directors say, they are committed to maintaining. This has been highlighted through timely placement of risks, timely collection of premiums, timely processing of claims and advising clients appropriately based on their respective needs.

“We are there for our clients and provide them with legal, fi nancial and investment advice and guidance.”

Furthermore, the brokerage fi rm links clients with each other so that

they can share experiences and grow in their fi nancial journeys. BTB is striving to be a fi rm off ering more than just insurance products and services.

The insurance business in the group was started in 1950 in Thika and since then, the fi rm has come a long way. Before then, the group was involved in coff ee, sisal and spares business.

It is 65 years later that the group has been recognized for the quality of its insurance brokerage services. “The award is a great gift to the company.”

BTB has, indeed, been through challenging times as in 1999, it nearly went bankrupt.

Staff and other stakeholders helped to resurrect it from the ashes and lift it to its current position of greatness. This success is refl ected in the fi rm’s fi nancial performance last year when it collected premiums worth Sh.1.6 billion in Kenya and in excess of Sh.2 billion when the regional business is factored in.

BTB is credited with developing insurance premium fi nancing which enables clients to pay premiums comfortably.

For managing client claims professionally, insurance fi rms have in the past feted BTB Insurance Brokers. Its trophy-laden cabinet attests to this.

Last year, insurance fi rm Kenindia Assurance feted BTB with several awards: Sales Achievement Award (pension), Sales Achievement Award (group life), Best in credit Control, Runners-up, Best broker in General Insurance and Sales Achievement (Best in premium Volume). Also last year, DTB feted it with the Best in Banking Network award.

The Insurance Regulatory Authority too, recognizes the fi rm’s professionalism and the expertise of its personnel. That is why some BTB experts are in a technical board that advises the IRA Commissioner on specifi c industry matters.

The fi rm’s directors and top management boast more than 200 years’ experience gained in the insurance industry.

The directors believe the award is a confi rmation that insurance brokers have won the respect that they deserve.

The insurance business in the group was started in 1950 in Thika and since then, the fi rm has come a long way. Before then, the group was involved in coff ee, sisal and spares business.

BTB Insurance Brokers team collecting trophy at Gala Night.

BTB Team posing in post gala photo shoot.

Our Associates

Your Preferred Insurer

Your Preferred Insurer

�

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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XXIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

It received accolades for being the champion in fi nancial services and was ranked at position 15 overall – out of 100.

“It took long to be recognized but we

are grateful for the honour,” said one of the fi rm’s directors during an interview at their offi ces in Nairobi.

When the announcement was made, they were “ecstatic, pleased and deeply honoured” but the management was “surprised that we had won after waiting for so long.”He said they believe they have the best solutions in the industry and off er the best services.

They therefore hope to henceforth exceed the service levels that they have attained so far.

The directors believe the award is a confi rmation that insurance brokers have won the respect that they deserve.

It is not by coincidence that many clients have been with the fi rm for more than a decade. There are those who have stuck with BTB for 14 years or more, testimony that they are being served well.

“They stay because of the excellent

service we off er them,” said the director. “We are risk management professionals and through our staff compliment of 50, we attend to clients’ insurance needs in Kenya, Uganda and

BTB Insurance Brokers’ role in the fi nancial services sector has fi nally been recognized. The innovative

brokerage fi rm was declared the winner in the fi nancial services category during this year’s celebration of the Top 100 mid-size fi rms in Kenya.

Tanzania.Buoyed by this success, the insurance

brokerage fi rm now eyes the Rwanda and Malawi markets where it plans to put up shop soon.

By EVANS ONGWAE >>> eongwae@ke.nationmedia.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP 100 MID-SIZED COMPANIES 2014

BTB Insurance Brokers feted for off ering quality services to clients

According to the director, the Top 100 award has motivated his staff “because it approves of our work. It is a morale booster for our staff .”

The fi rm’s bosses are optimistic that

since BTB has now joined the Top 100 Club, government agencies will give them a chance as suppliers. In the past, BTB has not made any breakthrough with its tender application but the management is hopeful that they have found the key to unlock opportunities previously unavailable to them.

Other than the possibility of winning government contracts, BTB expects to attract more clients.

Service is BTB’s key selling point and this, the directors say, they are committed to maintaining. This has been highlighted through timely placement of risks, timely collection of premiums, timely processing of claims and advising clients appropriately based on their respective needs.

“We are there for our clients and provide them with legal, fi nancial and investment advice and guidance.”

Furthermore, the brokerage fi rm links clients with each other so that

they can share experiences and grow in their fi nancial journeys. BTB is striving to be a fi rm off ering more than just insurance products and services.

The insurance business in the group was started in 1950 in Thika and since then, the fi rm has come a long way. Before then, the group was involved in coff ee, sisal and spares business.

It is 65 years later that the group has been recognized for the quality of its insurance brokerage services. “The award is a great gift to the company.”

BTB has, indeed, been through challenging times as in 1999, it nearly went bankrupt.

Staff and other stakeholders helped to resurrect it from the ashes and lift it to its current position of greatness. This success is refl ected in the fi rm’s fi nancial performance last year when it collected premiums worth Sh.1.6 billion in Kenya and in excess of Sh.2 billion when the regional business is factored in.

BTB is credited with developing insurance premium fi nancing which enables clients to pay premiums comfortably.

For managing client claims professionally, insurance fi rms have in the past feted BTB Insurance Brokers. Its trophy-laden cabinet attests to this.

Last year, insurance fi rm Kenindia Assurance feted BTB with several awards: Sales Achievement Award (pension), Sales Achievement Award (group life), Best in credit Control, Runners-up, Best broker in General Insurance and Sales Achievement (Best in premium Volume). Also last year, DTB feted it with the Best in Banking Network award.

The Insurance Regulatory Authority too, recognizes the fi rm’s professionalism and the expertise of its personnel. That is why some BTB experts are in a technical board that advises the IRA Commissioner on specifi c industry matters.

The fi rm’s directors and top management boast more than 200 years’ experience gained in the insurance industry.

The directors believe the award is a confi rmation that insurance brokers have won the respect that they deserve.

The insurance business in the group was started in 1950 in Thika and since then, the fi rm has come a long way. Before then, the group was involved in coff ee, sisal and spares business.

BTB Insurance Brokers team collecting trophy at Gala Night.

BTB Team posing in post gala photo shoot.

Our Associates

Your Preferred Insurer

Your Preferred Insurer

�

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

"#$#%&' )*+,-./01&203 4567/#

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XX BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

It received accolades for being the champion in fi nancial services and was ranked at position 15 overall – out of 100.

“It took long to be recognized but we

are grateful for the honour,” said one of the fi rm’s directors during an interview at their offi ces in Nairobi.

When the announcement was made, they were “ecstatic, pleased and deeply honoured” but the management was “surprised that we had won after waiting for so long.”He said they believe they have the best solutions in the industry and off er the best services.

They therefore hope to henceforth exceed the service levels that they have attained so far.

The directors believe the award is a confi rmation that insurance brokers have won the respect that they deserve.

It is not by coincidence that many clients have been with the fi rm for more than a decade. There are those who have stuck with BTB for 14 years or more, testimony that they are being served well.

“They stay because of the excellent

service we off er them,” said the director. “We are risk management professionals and through our staff compliment of 50, we attend to clients’ insurance needs in Kenya, Uganda and

BTB Insurance Brokers’ role in the fi nancial services sector has fi nally been recognized. The innovative

brokerage fi rm was declared the winner in the fi nancial services category during this year’s celebration of the Top 100 mid-size fi rms in Kenya.

Tanzania.Buoyed by this success, the insurance

brokerage fi rm now eyes the Rwanda and Malawi markets where it plans to put up shop soon.

By EVANS ONGWAE >>> eongwae@ke.nationmedia.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP 100 MID-SIZED COMPANIES 2014

BTB Insurance Brokers feted for off ering quality services to clients

According to the director, the Top 100 award has motivated his staff “because it approves of our work. It is a morale booster for our staff .”

The fi rm’s bosses are optimistic that

since BTB has now joined the Top 100 Club, government agencies will give them a chance as suppliers. In the past, BTB has not made any breakthrough with its tender application but the management is hopeful that they have found the key to unlock opportunities previously unavailable to them.

Other than the possibility of winning government contracts, BTB expects to attract more clients.

Service is BTB’s key selling point and this, the directors say, they are committed to maintaining. This has been highlighted through timely placement of risks, timely collection of premiums, timely processing of claims and advising clients appropriately based on their respective needs.

“We are there for our clients and provide them with legal, fi nancial and investment advice and guidance.”

Furthermore, the brokerage fi rm links clients with each other so that

they can share experiences and grow in their fi nancial journeys. BTB is striving to be a fi rm off ering more than just insurance products and services.

The insurance business in the group was started in 1950 in Thika and since then, the fi rm has come a long way. Before then, the group was involved in coff ee, sisal and spares business.

It is 65 years later that the group has been recognized for the quality of its insurance brokerage services. “The award is a great gift to the company.”

BTB has, indeed, been through challenging times as in 1999, it nearly went bankrupt.

Staff and other stakeholders helped to resurrect it from the ashes and lift it to its current position of greatness. This success is refl ected in the fi rm’s fi nancial performance last year when it collected premiums worth Sh.1.6 billion in Kenya and in excess of Sh.2 billion when the regional business is factored in.

BTB is credited with developing insurance premium fi nancing which enables clients to pay premiums comfortably.

For managing client claims professionally, insurance fi rms have in the past feted BTB Insurance Brokers. Its trophy-laden cabinet attests to this.

Last year, insurance fi rm Kenindia Assurance feted BTB with several awards: Sales Achievement Award (pension), Sales Achievement Award (group life), Best in credit Control, Runners-up, Best broker in General Insurance and Sales Achievement (Best in premium Volume). Also last year, DTB feted it with the Best in Banking Network award.

The Insurance Regulatory Authority too, recognizes the fi rm’s professionalism and the expertise of its personnel. That is why some BTB experts are in a technical board that advises the IRA Commissioner on specifi c industry matters.

The fi rm’s directors and top management boast more than 200 years’ experience gained in the insurance industry.

The directors believe the award is a confi rmation that insurance brokers have won the respect that they deserve.

The insurance business in the group was started in 1950 in Thika and since then, the fi rm has come a long way. Before then, the group was involved in coff ee, sisal and spares business.

BTB Insurance Brokers team collecting trophy at Gala Night.

BTB Team posing in post gala photo shoot.

Our Associates

Your Preferred Insurer

Your Preferred Insurer

�

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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XXIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

It received accolades for being the champion in fi nancial services and was ranked at position 15 overall – out of 100.

“It took long to be recognized but we

are grateful for the honour,” said one of the fi rm’s directors during an interview at their offi ces in Nairobi.

When the announcement was made, they were “ecstatic, pleased and deeply honoured” but the management was “surprised that we had won after waiting for so long.”He said they believe they have the best solutions in the industry and off er the best services.

They therefore hope to henceforth exceed the service levels that they have attained so far.

The directors believe the award is a confi rmation that insurance brokers have won the respect that they deserve.

It is not by coincidence that many clients have been with the fi rm for more than a decade. There are those who have stuck with BTB for 14 years or more, testimony that they are being served well.

“They stay because of the excellent

service we off er them,” said the director. “We are risk management professionals and through our staff compliment of 50, we attend to clients’ insurance needs in Kenya, Uganda and

BTB Insurance Brokers’ role in the fi nancial services sector has fi nally been recognized. The innovative

brokerage fi rm was declared the winner in the fi nancial services category during this year’s celebration of the Top 100 mid-size fi rms in Kenya.

Tanzania.Buoyed by this success, the insurance

brokerage fi rm now eyes the Rwanda and Malawi markets where it plans to put up shop soon.

By EVANS ONGWAE >>> eongwae@ke.nationmedia.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP 100 MID-SIZED COMPANIES 2014

BTB Insurance Brokers feted for off ering quality services to clients

According to the director, the Top 100 award has motivated his staff “because it approves of our work. It is a morale booster for our staff .”

The fi rm’s bosses are optimistic that

since BTB has now joined the Top 100 Club, government agencies will give them a chance as suppliers. In the past, BTB has not made any breakthrough with its tender application but the management is hopeful that they have found the key to unlock opportunities previously unavailable to them.

Other than the possibility of winning government contracts, BTB expects to attract more clients.

Service is BTB’s key selling point and this, the directors say, they are committed to maintaining. This has been highlighted through timely placement of risks, timely collection of premiums, timely processing of claims and advising clients appropriately based on their respective needs.

“We are there for our clients and provide them with legal, fi nancial and investment advice and guidance.”

Furthermore, the brokerage fi rm links clients with each other so that

they can share experiences and grow in their fi nancial journeys. BTB is striving to be a fi rm off ering more than just insurance products and services.

The insurance business in the group was started in 1950 in Thika and since then, the fi rm has come a long way. Before then, the group was involved in coff ee, sisal and spares business.

It is 65 years later that the group has been recognized for the quality of its insurance brokerage services. “The award is a great gift to the company.”

BTB has, indeed, been through challenging times as in 1999, it nearly went bankrupt.

Staff and other stakeholders helped to resurrect it from the ashes and lift it to its current position of greatness. This success is refl ected in the fi rm’s fi nancial performance last year when it collected premiums worth Sh.1.6 billion in Kenya and in excess of Sh.2 billion when the regional business is factored in.

BTB is credited with developing insurance premium fi nancing which enables clients to pay premiums comfortably.

For managing client claims professionally, insurance fi rms have in the past feted BTB Insurance Brokers. Its trophy-laden cabinet attests to this.

Last year, insurance fi rm Kenindia Assurance feted BTB with several awards: Sales Achievement Award (pension), Sales Achievement Award (group life), Best in credit Control, Runners-up, Best broker in General Insurance and Sales Achievement (Best in premium Volume). Also last year, DTB feted it with the Best in Banking Network award.

The Insurance Regulatory Authority too, recognizes the fi rm’s professionalism and the expertise of its personnel. That is why some BTB experts are in a technical board that advises the IRA Commissioner on specifi c industry matters.

The fi rm’s directors and top management boast more than 200 years’ experience gained in the insurance industry.

The directors believe the award is a confi rmation that insurance brokers have won the respect that they deserve.

The insurance business in the group was started in 1950 in Thika and since then, the fi rm has come a long way. Before then, the group was involved in coff ee, sisal and spares business.

BTB Insurance Brokers team collecting trophy at Gala Night.

BTB Team posing in post gala photo shoot.

Our Associates

Your Preferred Insurer

Your Preferred Insurer

�

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

"#$#%&' )*+,-./01&203 4567/#

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XXII BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

HEALTH

11 Mega Pack

BY MUGAMBI MUTEGI

Mega Pack Limited is the fourth com-pany that its chief

executive officer, Mr Akash Shah, operates locally. Being the youngest firm of the lot, at just six years, its entry into the Sh70 million and above annual revenue league this past Febru-ary is a giant feat.

The Nakuru-based firm manufactures corrugated packaging material (or simply carton boxes) and sells them to a wide range of clients who use the ubiquitous material to pack and safely transport their wares.

Mega Pack was founded in 2008, borne of the success of two floriculture firms and a blanket manufacturing com-pany that Mr Shah and his two business partners co-own.

The carton company now produces and delivers 1,500 tonnes of corrugated packag-ing material to the local market a year, with plans of increasing that output to 2,000 tonnes by the end of next year.

“Our main customers are in the fast moving consumer goods industry and include manufacturers of confection-eries, edible oils and fats, min-eral water producers and many others,” said Mr Shah during an interview with the Business Daily after being selected to the coveted Top 100 list.

“We like to keep our clients ahead of the game and focus on supplying custom built corru-gated requirements,” he said, adding that the company now has 150 employees.

Mega Pack’s main clients are based in and around Nakuru town but they also make deliv-eries to Mombasa.

When asked why he and his business partners settled on the carton business as their next venture, Mr Shah simply noted that “everybody uses car-tons”. “The demand for corru-gated packaging material in Kenya is growing and at the time when we did our market research, we discovered that most companies in this line of business were based in Nai-robi,” said Mr Shah.

“There was not a single company in Nakuru. That is why we decided to give it a try and it has been a rewarding journey since 2008 when we set up shop.”

However, even with de-mand for cartons increasing year on year, it has not been smooth sailing for Mega Pack with the number of competitors having also increased.

Fi≥m that packaged its way up the money ladde≥

MANUFACTURING

12 East African Canvas Co. Ltd

BY DOREEN WAINAINA

Rob Flowers and Gary Macintyre were in-spired by the region’s

dramatic landscape when they founded East African Canvas Company Ltd 11 years ago to manufacture tents that are today used principally by up-market tour companies and in camps.

The tents they make have evolved to meet shifting tastes, needs and raw material con-straints. At the firm’s factory along Nairobi’s Magadi Road, a large steel frame sits bare in the compound, representing a rad-ical departure from the tradi-

tional wooden frames that they began with. When the market ran short of hardwood a few years back, the firm had to re-think and move forwards, with innovation sitting at the centre of its every operation.

Mr Flowers previously ran a tenting firm, Pengo Limited, which he later merged with Mr Macintyre’s Sandstorm, to form East African Canvas Company. “When Gary and I came together, we already had a market base from our existing clientele, so it took only about three to four years to recoup the investment,” he recalls.

The initial investment that the two made for tent manufac-ture went into hiring a work force and sewing machines. The whole tent-making proc-ess is done in-house except for the making of the tent frames, which they sub-contract.

Mr Flowers says tents were

a natural space for him, having previously spent 20 years in the tenting business, 15 of them as a tour guide. He took up the task of innovation upon the merger, always striving to create value by varying colours, designs and the comfort of tents.

The new firm initially faced a challenge of coming up with a different look for the tents, which existed only in green and light green. “No one had thought of making a beige tent, and now that is almost all you will get in the market,” said Mr Flowers.

They also had to create de-mand by educating the market. “Educating a market to what is possible is almost as difficult as anything else. It is very hard for people to see innovation unless it is right in front of their faces. Proof of concept is very impor-tant, they have to see it to be-lieve it will work,” he said.

Ente≥p≥ise that saw gold in love fo≥ tents

CONSTRUCTION

13 Hajar Services Limited

BY LYNET IGADWAH

When Mohamed Ahmed, 42, finished repaying a Sh300 million loan to finance a

construction project, he sighed with re-lief, confessing it had been a torturous three years.

He had taken a bank loan to facili-tate the construction of 120 apartments located off Waiyaki Way, the biggest project ever undertaken by his firm, Hajar Services Ltd.

Since its inception in 2004, the build-ing and construction company has com-pleted over 30 projects including villas, offices, and maisonettes in and around Nairobi.

Mr Ahmed founded the company on spotting an opportunity in Kenya’s property market, which made him quit his lucrative job at a bank.

At the time he entered the market, the country’s real estate sector was experienc-ing a boom as the expanding middle class

fuelled the demand for properties.“I had worked for Diamond Trust

Bank for five years before resigning to pursue a business venture in real estate. I had risen up the ranks in various depart-ments to be the credit manager at the bank,” says Mr Ahmed, who is the CEO at Hajar Services Ltd.

His Economics degree from Egerton University and a solid family background in real estate played key roles in fanning his flames of passion for running a suc-cessful building and construction com-

pany. He even convinced his wife, who worked for Barclays Bank, to leave the corporate world and join him as finance director in their business.

A sister company, Homescope Proper-ties Limited, now focuses mainly on de-velopment and joint ventures with land owners. All the construction works for Homescope Properties are undertaken by Hajar Services Limited. This means that the group does not outsource serv-ices from other firms. Before the incor-poration of Hajar Services, Mr. Ahmed,

together with others, started their first project in South C, comprising 20 mai-sonettes in Asilia Estate and 24 maison-ettes in Eleganze Gardens.

After incorporation in 2007, the com-pany handled bigger projects, including Loresho Springs, the ICPAC Centre offic-es, Eve Gardens, Woodside Villas, Fahari Heights, and Pergolla Villas, among oth-ers. Currently, the company is handling over 10 projects at the same time. Each project takes around two years to com-plete. The firm’s target clientele spreads

across the spectrum, including high-end buyers as well as those who are seeking budget units.

With a ‘Category 2 of Building Works’ from the National Construction Authori-ty, the company now qualifies to do works valued up to Sh1 billion.

Hajar Services Ltd is also registered with the Kenya Federation of Master Builders, confirming the firm as de-pendable, quality builders and special-ist trades people.

Though headquartered in Nairobi, the company operates branches in Ma-lindi and Watamu, and has over 550 employees, including permanent and contractual workers.

“One outstanding feature about us is that we allow for the personalisation of our finishing, unlike our competitors. This is because we appreciate clients have their own lifestyles, which are dictated by their family size and cultural back-ground,” he says.

Staying ahead of the game calls for a lot of patience and calm, he says, es-pecially with clients who disappoint when it comes to payment for the serv-ices supplied.

“Despite the obstacles along the way, I have managed to keep my eyes on the ball and quitting the business has never crossed my mind,” says Mr Ahmed, who is currently pursuing an MBA from the University of Liverpool.

Man who left a bank job fo≥ b≥icks and mo≥ta≥

Representatives of Hajar Services Limited pose with their trophy during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night.FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XXIIIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

North Star Cooling Systems was one of the winners during this year’s Top 100 Mid-sized companies Survey, picking two awards at the gala event. It was declared the Best in Professional Services besides emerging 4th overall.The projects that the firm has completed are more than 50 and several others are ongoing.One of the highlights of the firm’s works is the Ice Rink Area commissioned in December 2005 at the Panari Sky Centre. Mr Kishore Reddy, the director of North Star Cooling Systems, which has installed the facility, told media it will require maintenance throughout the day to prevent the ice from melting.Most of the works that the firm has engineered comprised all HVAC elements. These include: Tullow oil Head office at westend Towers, JKIA Terminal 4, Park in Garage & P3A, Centre for Disease Control Projects includes; Kisumu East District Hospital Microbiology TB District Laboratory, disease control building (NASCOP) Administrative Building Kenyatta Campus, Central Microbiology, TB &HIV Laboratory (CML Complex). IBM Research Centre at CUEA in Nairobi, The World Bank Group office in Nairobi, African Development Bank Office Fit-out Upper Hill, Magic Slot Casino at Fortis

Towers, SBC Kenya Ltd.’s Pepsi Cola Bottling Plant in Ruaraka, The New Diagnostics Surgical Ward and ICU building at Gertrude’s Gardens Children Hospital, Nairobi Hospital Cancer Centre, ILRI/BecA Phase I & II-IV, Nakumatt Westgate,

Sarova White Sands Hotel, Thika Road Mall, Galleria Mall along Langata Road, among the ongoing Projects are; Parkin Inn Hotel, The Lazizi Premiere Hotel, Hilton garden Inn Hotel, Two Rivers Lifestyle Centre among others.

According to Mr. Reddy, any business should strive to add value to the economy and should live up to or exceed the expectations of the clients. He asserts that quality service delivery guarantees business continuity. Mr. Reddy adds that, to be successful in business, working extra hard is key.HVAC systems, which his firm specializes in, is important in the design of medium to large commercial or industrial, Level III Laboratories, Cold Rooms & office buildings where safe and healthy building conditions are regulated with respect to temperature and humidity, using fresh air from outdoors. Ventilation is used to remove unpleasant smells and excessive moisture, introduce outside air, to keep interior building air circulating, and to prevent stagnation of the interior air. Ventilation includes both the exchange of air to the outside as well as circulation of air within the building. It is one of the most important factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings.In modern buildings the design, installation, and control systems of these functions are integrated into one or more HVAC systems.For larger buildings, building service designers, mechanical engineers, or building services engineers analyze, design, and specify the HVAC systems. Specialty mechanical contractors then fabricate and commission the systems. However, Mr. Reddy emphasizes that, North Star Cooling System’s unique competency and perhaps the biggest differentiator is that, they do not simply carry out the project as a typical contracting firm, where as they work closely with all the stake holders of the project and look at the entire system in a holistic manner keeping in-view of certain critical factors such as optimal design, efficiency, reliability, life cycle cost, after sale service etc.. And he continued saying that, this philosophy and approach of our firm earns the confidence of our esteemed clientele

By EVANS ONGWAE

eong

NORTH STAR COOLING SYSTEMS LTD

Best in professional services

NORTH STAR COOLING SYSTEMS LTD, P.O Box 5085-00506, Nairobi, Kenya Shiv Business Park, Unit No.4, Old Mombasa Road, Tel: - 2013142 Tel/fax: - 551398

Cell:0710-200400 / 0737-777600, E-Mail: - info@northstar.co.ke md@northstar.co.ke

XXIV BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

TRANSPORT

14 Pewin Motors

BY BRIAN WASUNA

Pewin Group of Companies chair-man Peter Kirigua donated just four Toyota NZE vehicles to start

Pewin Cabs. The company now runs a fleet of 150 vehicles, and is managed by his son, 36-year-old computer scientist Justus Kirigua, who as managing direc-tor has led the firm into steep growth.

At first, the firm would invite people with vehicles lying idle to put them on the road under Pewin’s umbrella, but this changed in 2012, when it reached a financial agreement with a bank, which agreed to fund its planned growth. It now has 150 drivers and 50 administra-tors, who work in shifts as it runs a 24 hour business, and is looking to expand beyond Kenya’s borders.

“We have finalised an agreement with our financiers and by the end of the month we shall have added 10 more cars. Each driver is allocated a car

which he uses until the day he leaves the company,” said Fred Otieno, Pewin Cab’s financial manager.

The firm is a subsidiary of the Pewin Group of Companies that includes an auto sales shop run by his father and brother, Pewin Drycleaners run by his mother, and Pewin Suppliers that deals in fire fighting equipment.

The Pewin Group is a family busi-

ness, but the cab sector of its operations has stuck out as the best performer, based on its exponential growth over the last six years.

With the cab business highly satu-rated, Mr Otieno holds that the key to success has been its unique utilisation of technology that he says “ensures we maintain traditional customer values”.

Pewin has a modernised call centre in Nairobi that it uses to dispatch driv-ers to clients. All cabs are monitored in real time from the centre, which Mr Otieno says helps to allocate the closest cab to a particular client at any given time.

“We also have an automated system that gives information on the cab to the client, including the name and phone

number of the driver,” he adds.Mr Kirigua, the managing director,

adds that the secret to success has been a consistent effort to instill the com-pany’s core values in each and every employee.

Pewin Cabs averages 1,200 trips a day, with its core market being the cor-porate world and Non-Governmental Organisations.

One of its biggest clients is the Unit-ed Nations, as well as a number of top financial institutions that the financial controller insists are better kept out of the public limelight.

Having already conquered Nairobi, Pewin is set to start operations in Mom-basa and Kisumu in an expansion move that Mr Kirigua says is just a scratch on the surface of its long- term plan, which includes crossing over into other coun-tries in the region.

“It is in our company vision. We are aiming at providing services beyond Kenya, but we wanted to get Nairobi right first. If you can get Nairobi right, you can probably get it right in other cities in the region,” he adds.

The firm has raised issue, however, with the ever changing laws and levies that the county government is introduc-ing, arguing that they do not encourage investment.

Cab fi≥m uses technology to cut a niche in ma≥ket

Pewin Cabs employees pose with their trophy during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night at the Carnivore. FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

Impax Business Solutions is an information systems consultancy company providing solutions in the areas of business process automation and mobile solutions. The company has undertaken a wide range of consultancy assignments in more than 15 countries in Africa and is looking to widen its reach across the continent.

Impax continues to identify and make available to its clients the most innovative and cutting edge technologies in Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management, Retail Management System, Distribution Management System and Fixed Assets Management that will deliver the highest value to the clients. In doing so, the company invests in understanding the various clients’ needs and identifying solutions that best meets those needs.

Contact Details4th Floor Abcon House, 6 Masaba Road, Lower Hill

P.O Box 12708-00100 NairobiTel: +254 20 2734296 | +254 20 2728348

info@impaxafrica.comwww.impaxafrica.com

XXVWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

FINANCIAL CHAMPION

15 BTB Insurance

BY CHARLES MWANIKI

BTB Insurance Brokers, which emerged as this year’s financial industry champion in the Top 100 SMEs survey, started life

as a spinoff from a family business dealing in sisal, coffee and spare parts.

The company, which was ranked 15th overall in the Top 100, was started by brothers Kamlesh and Dilesh Bid, who saw an opportunity in the insurance sector after the original family busi-nesses ran into headwinds.

The insurance firm is now one of some 30 diversified companies the family owns through holding company Bid Investment Company - which recently made news when it made a buy-out bid for listed agriculture firm Rea Vipingo. The holding company is, in turn, owned by a family trust.

The director in charge of operations at Bid Insurance, Kunal Bid, told the Business Daily that the path to the top has involved years of building trust

“We went through hardships in 1998 when the other companies went down, and, basically, this insurance company rose from the ashes and has been the one that has grown the group to what it is today. Over the last 15 years, the company has been growing at around 20 per cent per an-num,” said Mr Bid.

“We are excellent at getting claims settled and through this leverage our clients have stayed with us, keeping a close relationship built up over years.”BTB also benefits from the services pro-vided by sister companies, such as Bid Securities,

meaning it can offer additional services to clients in areas such as financial advice and risk manage-ment, which many insurers do not offer.

BTB is also looking at setting up an asset management company to help manage clients’ pensions funds, a line of business they are cur-rently passing on to other firms in spite of interest from clients.The company has until now relied on word of mouth to attract clients that include other family owned businesses such as Kenafric Industries, Kapa Oil Refineries, Broadway Bak-ery, Kenblest and Hashi Energy.

While the company’s business strategy will remain unchanged following the exposure pro-vided by the Top 100 win, Mr Bid said it is hopeful of attracting a now wider clientele.

“We have been struggling in the past with government tenders and also with multination-als, which tend to focus on fellow multinational companies rather than looking at experts within the field in the local market. Maybe this recogni-tion will help us tap into that market in which we have been overlooked in the past,” he said.

BTB Insurance has also been expanding re-gionally, with offices in Tanzania and Uganda, to keep pace with its clients, who are also expanding into these countries. According to Mr Bid, the company is also looking at going into Rwanda and Malawi in the near future.

It, however, has no plans to go public, with Mr Bid saying there is not enough incentive, ei-ther in corporate tax gains or for capital raising purposes, to warrant a listing.

“At the moment we are meeting our capital requirements from within our structures. We don’t feel we need to raise additional capital other than that for the capital requirements by the regulators. We are working on better corpo-rate governance, however,” he said.

“There is also a lot of private equity money around for businesses like ours, and it is cheaper to access.”

B≥othe≥s who b≥aved competition to make thei≥ ma≥k in insu≥ance

BTB Insurance staff pose with their trophy during the TOP 100 Mid-Sized Companies gala night at Nairobi’s Carnivore grounds.FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP 100MID-SIZED COMPANIES 2014

Pharmaken Limited bagged the Best Health Category award and the 7th best overall in this year’s Kenya Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies audit.

Pharmaken’s expanding product range bags it top health award

By WACHIRA MWANGI >>> bwachira@ke.nationmedia.comwachiramwa2000

As a brand name in the pharmaceutical prod-ucts, dental materials and equipment industry, Pharmaken aims to make a difference in the lives of Kenyans through the provision of affordable and quality products.

The company started operations in April, 2006, by importing and distributing pharmaceu-tical products across the country.

According to Marketing Director Leonard Njeru, they have been growing since then by increasing product portfolio and venturing into new segments.

“In 2007 we started the dental line and equip-ment, eventually growing to become a leading company in that segment. Five years later we

Life” laid the foundation.“Our success has been from our commitment

to maintaining excellence, respect, and integrity in all aspects of our operations and our profes-sional and business conduct. We strive to reflect the highest ethical standards in our relationships with all healthcare professionals and all our cli-ents,” said Mr Njeru.

The company has also achieved higher ratings in service delivery and aims to continue giving the best to customers.

“We ensure we are up to date with peer review trends in our field and continually offer innovative solutions to our customers.

“We value our clients, both from private and public sectors, and we love having that personal touch with them. Some of our clients are the Nairobi Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Aga Khan hospitals, Mombasa Hospital, Pandya, Mater, Karen and many other county hospitals,” said Mr Njeru.

Board of Directors, management and staff at the Pharmaken Ltd Head office in Mombasa.

Management and staff Pharmaken Ltd Nairobi branch.

started the distribution of a va-riety of medical equipment, for example Intensive Care Unit, theatre and mortuary equip-ment,” Mr Njeru said.

From theatre lights, operat-ing tables, anaesthesia ma-chines, morgue refrigerators, medical gases compression and filling plants and oxygen gen-erators, Pharmaken ventured into ambulances and special vehicles like fire engines and garbage collection trucks in 2013.

The company head offices are at Links Plaza in Nyali, Mombasa and another office at Hurling-ham Medicare Plaza in Hurlingham area, Nairobi, which supplies countrywide.

“Since we don’t deal directly with consumers, we use existing distribution channels to supply retail outlets countrywide. We have a very able marketing team of 19 staff who visit these areas to market our products. We also supply hospi-tals, NGOs, national and county governments,” Mr Njeru said.

“The biggest challenge we’ve had is getting the right people to employ, people who are motivated to see the company grow and to see results. With the right people the company can achieve phenomenal growth in a short period,” he said.

Pharmaken focuses on providing quality at reasonable prices. Since its inception, the com-pany’s motto “Quality Products for Quality to

Pharmaken also has an in-fection-control division which supplies disinfectants, includ-ing hand sanitizers and theatre equipment disinfectants.

Plans are underway to ex-pand their market to Southern Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda and also set up a homegrown manufacturing plant which is expected to be commissioned by 2017.

Pharmaken aims to main-tain their current position in the health category and also get the best overall company award next year.

Board of Directors, Pharmaken Ltd L to R Mr Raza Muravvej Finance and Administration, Dr Samier Muravvej CEO and Mr Leonard Njeru, Marketing.

XXVI BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

RETAIL CHAMPION

18 Digital City Limited

BY DAVID HERBLING

Riaz Jin never imagined that the small electronics shop he opened in 1991 in downtown Mombasa

would grow into a multi-million shil-ling business.

He married Shabnam Kasmani in 1997 and together they worked to trans-form the duka that sold electronics spares into a major distributor and reseller of electrical and machinery goods.

“We started as a small shop deal-ing in electronics spares and accesso-ries items,” said Ms Kasmani, who is in

charge of the day-to-day running of the business.

This family-owned enterprise was this year crowned the retail industry cham-pion in the Top 100 Survey – a study that grades Kenya’s fastest growing mid-sized companies.

It was when the couple opened a sec-ond shop in Mombasa town that they named it Digital City. They also increased the range of goods on offer, starting to sell small capacity generators of up to 5kW, small metalworking machines, and woodworking and agricultural tools like welders, drills, grinders and water pumps.

In 2006, the entrepreneurial couple went on to open yet another branch in Mombasa’s central business district (CBD) and this time increased the range of products to include construc-tion equipment.

From there, Digital City had to lease a 15,000-square feet godown to store its stock. “Business was growing very fast. We now set our sights on other towns,” she said.

The following year, Digital City opened its maiden outlet in Nairobi with an eye on the greater metropolis region, Mt Kenya and central Rift Val-ley. In 2012, the company pitched tent in

Nakuru and started a second branch in Nairobi’s CBD the following year.

This brings to six the total number of Digital City branches across Kenya.

“Today, we are importing at least two 40-feet containers every month,” said Ms Kasmani. The company has 65 employees and says it will be recruiting more marketers to drive sales. Its prod-uct catalogue now includes generators

ranging from 0.5kVA -500kVA, construc-tion machinery, hydraulic and pneumatic machinery, electrical control systems and CCTV solutions and spare parts.

Digital City is now an exclusive fran-chise holder and distributor for brands such as INGCO (power tools, hand tools, machinery and accessories), Sas-sin power control systems, Super Power (construction, industrial and agricultural machines) and Wantong-Cummins gen-erators.

It lists parastatals, hotels and retail-ers among its clients, which include Ken-ya Ferry Services, Kenya Ports Authority, Bamburi Beach Hotel, Sai Rock Hotel, Ukwala Supermarkets, Car & General Ltd, Grain Bulk Handlers Ltd and Alpha Logistics, which undertook the laying of the LION2 submarine cable.

One of the biggest challenges in the electrical supplies business is the avail-ability of counterfeits, which tend to be cheaper than the originals, said Mr Jin.

“Another challenge we face is the complete lack of professional knowl-edge by end users or consumers, re-sulting in abuse of products and their components.”

But Digital City is undaunted, and is now training its eyes on the regional mar-ket, with plans to set up stores in Uganda and Tanzania. “We want to have outlets and service centres all over East Africa,” said Mr Jin.

Elect≥icals giant that g≥ew f≥om the co≥ne≥ shop

Digital City Limited officials with their trophy during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Compa-nies gala night at the Carnivore. SALATON NJAU

Kiluwa Place, nested in upmarket Hurlingham, has fully furnished and

serviced apartments.With 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom on offer for sale, it consists of a roof top conference room, roof top restaurant,

virtual offices, spa, gym, health bar, an apartment management service, to

mention but a few. For more info visit www.homescope.co.ke

Hajar Services LimitedLang’ata Road, Karen Nairobi, Kenya

Tel. +254 020 2346758 | +254 0710 478834 | +254 0722 803026www.hajar.co.ke

Bombax Villas A 4 bedroom all-ensuite maisonette development located off Mombasa Road in

Syokimau, approximately 15kms from CBD. An ultra-modern

development of 72 - four bedroom all-ensuite maisonettes gated

community in Syokimau

XXVIIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

XXVIII BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

TECHNOLOGY

16 Bluekey Software Solutions (K) Ltd

CONSTRUCTION

17 Ark Construction

TECHNOLOGY

18 Digital City Ltd

MANUFACTURERS

19 Vivek Investments Ltd

20 Woodbridge Group Ltd

MEDIA

21 Onfon Media Ltd

22 Lanor Holdings Ltd

FINANCIAL SERVICES

23 ASL Credit

CONSTRUCTION

24 Spry Engineering Co. Ltd

COMMUNICATION

25 Pwani Cellular Services Ltd

Is a Safaricom Dealership which started business in mid-2006 when the two found-ers, Laly Tele and Hussein Yunus left formal employment into the world of enterprise. The company set up distribution outlets

in Nairobi, Mombasa Malindi, Lamu and various parts of South Coast offering all Sa-faricom products and services, including Internet and Data. The directors intend to diversify and venture in to other lines of busi-ness. In 2010 the company ventured into the transport business; general haulage from the port of Mombasa to the neighbouring Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.

TRAVEL

26 Pinnacle K Travel & Safaris

ASL Credit Limited officials with their trophy during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Compa-nies gala night .FILE

Pwani Cellullar Services Limited officials with their trophy . FILE

Lanor Holdings Limited officials with their trophy. FILE

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XXIXWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

ENERGY

27 Powerpoint Systems Ea Ltd

TECHNOLOGY

28 Specicom Technologies Ltd

HEALTH SOLUTIONS

29 Executive Healthcare Solutions Ltd

MANUFACTURING

30 Allwin Packaging Intl Ltd

The business was founded in 2004 to sup-ply hand sealing machines and has since grown into East Africa’s largest supplier of packaging machines. The company cur-rently supplies more than 200 different types of packaging machines and materials to a wide range of manufacturing firms. Also has a range of coding machines from a very basic and low cost to highly advanced ink jet printers. The goal is to be a one-stop shop

for all packaging machine and materials. Allwin’s machines are carefully sourced and hand-picked from world class manufactures across the globe. Hopes to continue growing by adding new products and expanding into new markets.

CONSULTING

31 Africa Practice Ea Ltd

MEDICAL SERVICES

32 Upperhill Eye & Laser Centre

LOGISTICS

33 Cube Movers Limited

OFFICE AUTOMATION

34 Machines Technologies (2006) Ltd

Offers office automation solutions. Is Can-on’s official distributor and service centre in East Africa, which provides organizations with Canon’s extensive range of copier, print-ers, scanners & cameras. MTL also provides managed print services that allow custom-ers pay per copy of printed material instead of buying the machine. More recently MTL has launched a Professional Video & Camera rental division that provides Kenya’s grow-ing film industry with the ability to rent the highest quality Canon Professional Video and still cameras and lenses. Production teams working on tight budgets but having to deliver International quality broadcasts in High Definition now have access to Canon’s extensive range of Professional equipment at affordable prices.

TRAVEL & TOURISM SECTOR (TRAVEL MANAGEMENT COMPANY)

35 Charleston Travel Limited

Is a Kenyan company that was founded in 1990 and is the exclusive Kenyan partner of FCm Travel Solutions - a global corporate travel and expense management firm with a presence in more than 80 countries. Range of services include corporate & leisure air travel, inbound & outbound tours, hotel reservation, meetings, incentives, airport transfers, conference & events manage-ment, visa & immigration services, and other travel related services. Charleston has five branch offices in Kenya - four in Nairobi and one in Mombasa. It also runs three subsidi-

aries in Tanzania, South Sudan and Rwanda. Its client portfolio includes multinational companies, diplomatic missions, United Na-tions bodies, parastatals, Government agen-cies, media houses, banking and insurance companies.

EQUPMENT SUPPLIES

36 Africa Biosystems

ABL is a distributor of life sciences equip-ment and consumables for Eastern African Markets. Company’s customers fall into four main categories: government, NGO, academic and private sectors. ABL is head quartered in Nairobi but serves the entire Eastern Africa including Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, and Burundi. It is the distributor of Life Technologies, owned by Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in the life science market. ABL is driven by the principles of ethical practices, integrity and dedication to cus-tomer services. We are part of the United Nations Global Compact, an organization that promotes transparency and ethics.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS CONSULTANCY

37 Impax Business Solutions

Allwin Packaging Limited officials with their trophy .SALATON NJAU

Upperhill Eye & Laser Centre officials with their trophy. SALATON NJAU

Allwin Packaging Limited officials with their trophy .SALATON NJAU

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

For trade enquiries contact: Cell: +254 733 895 265, E-mail: info@africabiosystems.com , www.africabiosystems.com

• Forensic equipments for Human Identification

• DNA Testing

• Food Testing

• Animal Health

• Pesticides Residual

• Aflatoxins Testing

• Molecular Diagnostic Kits for Ebola, Malaria and HIV Testing

• Next - Generation Sequencing

DEALERS IN LIFE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES FOR ALL YOUR EQUIPMENTS & CONSUMABLE NEEDS

AND INTRODUCING Anti Microbial Masks

Office: Uniafric House2nd Floor, Rm. 235, Loita Street,

P.O. Box 105325 - 00101, Tel: 020 2212891, Cell: 0721 540460, 0729 709964

SECTOR: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENTS AND BUILDING

CONSTRUCTIONS:-

Dealers in Communication Equipments e.g Audio Visual Equipments, PA System, Alarm System, VHF Handheld Radio, Unique Offers is also dealing in IT e.g Computers, Printers, Laptops, Ups, Servers, Computers Hardware & Software & Accessories.

CCTV CORDLESS MIC CCTV CAMERA CORDLESS MIC

HORN SPEAKERS

PA SPEAKERS PA SYSTEM PA SYSTEM

XXX BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

TRANSPORT

38 Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

39 Elite tools ltd

INSURANCE

40 Mic Global Risks Nsurance Brokers Ltd

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

41 Lantech (Africa) Limited

ADVERTISING

42 Smart Brands Limited

PHARMACEUTICALS

43 Care Chemists

MANUFACTURING

44 Stitch Masters Ltd

Started as a small family business in 1994 with the goal of generating revenue for not only its directors but also for the families of its employees. Over the past 20 years the family business has grown to become the leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial, hospitality uniforms, safety gear and promotional Goods in East and Central Africa.

INSURANCE

45 Alexander Forbes Financial Services EA Ltd

Is the leading provider of actuarial, financial, risk and employee benefits services in East Africa. The firm’s mission is to be a higher purpose driven, globally distinctive organi-sation that creates wealth and protects clients’ assets in order to impact positively on their lives. Alexander Forbes strives for simplicity in the delivery of expert innovative solutions. In doing so, it aims for long-term relationships based on the priceless value of hard-earned trust. The ultimate objective is to enrich people’s lives.

LOGISTICS

46 Rongai Workshop & Transport Ltd

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MANUFACTURING

47 Coast Industrial & Safety Supplies

PHARMACEUTICALS

48 Eldohosp Pharmaceuticals

ENERGY

49 Stile Gas Supplies Ltd

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

50 Muranga Forwarders Limited

FURNITURE

51 Furniture Rama Ltd

TRANSPORT

52 Conventional Cargo Conveyors Ltd

Provides professional services in clearing, transport and warehousing, and auxiliary services worldwide. Offers timely, tailor-made and proficient services to customers that complement their business objectives and with exceptional customer care. Future plans include expansion of warehousing and transport logistics by putting up a state of the art complex and adding new trucks on its fleet.

ICT

53 Total Office Solutions EA Ltd

A compatible toner distributor of ColourSoft Laser Toners (Laser toners for HP / Samsung and Canon Printers that are on average 50 per cent-60 per cent more economical than Original Toners) and the largest dealers of Refurbished Copiers in East Africa with over 400 copiers in stock at any given time.Plans to further penetrate the corporate sector with its products offering, offer more value to clients who are interested in cut-ting down on their operational costs, whilst maintaining quality and integrity.

KEY DISTRIBUTOR OFKODAK SOLUTIONS

54 Typotech Imaging Systems

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT, BUILDING AND TECHNOLOGY

55 Unique Offers Limited

Stitch Masters Limited staff pose with their trophy. SALATON NJAU

Lantech Africa Limited officials with their trophy. SALATON NJAU

Jogian Interlink Limited officials receive their trophy from Paul Ouma of Strathmore Business School (right). SALATON NJAU

Alexander Forbes Financial Services officials with their trophy. SALATON NJAU

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XXXIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

BY VICTOR AMADALA

After unsuccessfully applying for a ranking in the Top 100 mid-size companies last year,

Career Directions Limited, a proac-tive human resources management consultancy firm established in Ken-ya 13 years ago, this year defiantly shot into the prestigious Club 101 that acknowledges mid size companies that have surpassed Sh1 billion in revenue.

According to Dav-id Chege, the general manager at the com-pany that provides manpower management, executive recruitment services, training, human resource consultancy, payroll processing, psychometric testing and call cen-

tre support services for numerous companies in almost 10 countries in Africa, no magic was applied. He attributes the company’s growth to quality and the real time execution of services, based on hard work, high levels of integrity and unrivaled cus-tomer relations.

Rooted in the mission of connect-ing, empowering and advancing peo-

ples’ lives, Career Direc-tions Limited, or simply CDL, now has a unique human resource infra-structure across the continent equipping it to hire, train and

pay professionals to work for other companies. ‘”CDL has a high density database of professionals across all sectors. We provide clients with the region’s best fit in education, knowl-

edge, skills, and experience to suit their organisations’ needs,” said Mr Chege. Apart from Nairobi, the company has branches in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Rwanda, which have together achieved direct and indirect employment of over 6, 125 people. Mr Chege revealed that the company intends to exhaust the African market, before spreading its

wings to other continents. But behind the success story that has raised the company’s turnover beyond Sh1bn - in just 13 years of existence - is a tale of struggle and challenges that have served to strengthen it. The labour outsourcing business involves high risk taking amid high expectations from clients.

“The company is tasked with a responsibility to groom professionals

from diverse backgrounds. We, there-fore, experience social and cultural shocks along the way,’” said Mr Che-ge. He praised the team of profession-als at CDL for their resilience, pas-sion and exemplary demeanor that enable them to work as a family to deliver the best for their clients. Un-like online job sites, which merely list opportunities to job seekers, CDL has an extra task to sieve the best from the best and hire, hence bridging the gap between prospective employers and job seekers.

Companies that have employed the services of CDL include Huawei Technologies, Nairobi Bottlers Lim-ited and Bamburi Special Products.

According to an Assistant Hu-man Resource Manager at Huawei Technologies, CLD have full time on-ground supervisors who offer solu-tions to all staff related matters in a dignified manner. He praised the company for its excellent knowledge of all human resource matters and compliance with all labour related laws in the region.

Besides recruitment, the compa-ny offers a flexible corporate payroll service that improves payroll man-agement for employers of every size and in every sector. - AFRICAN LAUGHTER

Building manpowe≥ gets consultancy into club of giants

Dancers from Kamini School of Dancing perform during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night at the Carnivore. FILE

The company has a large market share in Nakuru County and neighboring county of Baringo. We intend to venture in distributing to other neighboring counties like Narok, Kericho, Laikipia and Nyandarua.

We therefore thank our esteemed customers who has made us go this far, without them this milestone could not be achieved. We have a dedicated team of employees who work tirelessly for this big achievement to come forth, we appreciate their efforts in serving the society wholeheartedly.

Also we need to applause our Suppliers who have partnered with us and helped us achieve this promising goal.

All the stakeholders are hereby thanked and looking forward to do business with you in order to have a healthy society

PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTORS(WHOLESALERS AND RETAILERS)

YOUR LATE NIGHT CHEMISTYOUR ONE STOP PHARMACY

Pioneer Plaza, Mburu Gichua Road, P.o.o.box 214-20100 Nakuru. Tel: 051 -221 3884, 221 4549, Wireless 020- 233-7585 Cell: 0722 821 894

E-mail: supremepharmacy@ymail.com

DISTRIBUTORS FOR:-P.M.C LTD • BIODEAL LABORATORIES LTD • LAB & ALLIED

• ELLY’S CHEMICAL INDUSTRY LTD • POPULATION SERVICE INT• COMET HEALTHCARE • SPHINX PHARMACEAUTICALS • DAWA LTD

• BEAT HEATLHCARE LTD • SAICARE ENTERPRISES LTD

XXXII BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

WHOLESALE

56 Devsons Industries Ltd

Founded in 1973 and deals in importation and distribution of quality Safety (Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), industrial, and building products. Also serves as Kenya agents for a number of global brands includ-ing Technica & Red Rhino safety footwear, Robtec cutting & grinding discs, Eastman tools & Magi-cut hacksaw blades. Future Plans include positioning the company as the leading distributor of safety, industrial and building products all over the Comesa region. Aims to do this by collaborating with high quality international brands.

TRANSPORT

57 General Cargo Services Ltd

ICT

58 Jogian Interlink Limited

INSURANCE

59 Waumini Insurance Brokers

CLEANING SERVICES

60 Professional Clean Care Ltd

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

61 XRX Technologies Limited

AUTOMOTIVE SPARE PARTS

62 Amex Auto & Industries Hardware Ltd

Is a one-stop-shop for vehicle spare parts specializing in Japanese cars. Mainly serves garage owners, mechanics, wholesale spare shops and motorists. See themselves as “car doctors” that tackle all automobile ailments with speed. Runs a 25 member strong team, 90 per cent of who are aged under 32 – making it a Gen-Y company. Sources vehicle parts from the best factories in Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand & Japan

PHARMACEUTICALS

63 Syner-Med Pharmaceuticals (K) Ltd

Is one of the fastest growing ISO certified pharmaceutical companies in East Africa with proven expertise in importation, distri-bution and marketing of high quality special-ized as well as the branded generic Pharma-ceutical products from around the world. Was incorporated in 1996 with a vision to at-tain leadership in healthcare sector. Pursues a “customer-oriented, efficiency, and employee achievement” drive as the corporate philosophy. Syner-Med currently has more than 140 stock keeping units run by seven dedicated, organised and qualified sales and marketing teams.

TRANSPORT

64 Ndugu Transport Company

SECURITY

65 Security World Technology Ltd

TOURS AND TRAVEL

66 Vintage Travel & Tours Services Ltd

LOGISTICS

67 Vinep Forwarders Limited

MANUFACTURING

68 Dune Packaging Limited

ICT (HARDWARE, SOFTWARE & SOLUTIONS)

69 Ravenzo Trading Limited

Started operations 5 years ago with the in-tention of selling IT hardware and software through online portal – www.ravenzo.com. Started humbly with a working capital of Sh36,000/- from a dining room table. The company is currently represented in the re-tail and online sectors and with the biggest revenue stream coming from the corporate sector, where Ravenzo is a listed supplier for over 450 SME’s, big corporations, govern-ment organisations, parastatals and NGO’s. Has a 3,000 square foot head office located at ABC Place – Waiyaki Way and a 1,000 square foot showroom in the same location. Compnay plans introduce a new division for distribution of IT hardware and accessories to fellow retailers and resellers. The divi-sion is already been setup and is serving five vendors to start distributing their innovative products in the East Africa.

ENERGY

70 Trinity Petroleum Limited

Established under the Companies Act Cap 486, of the laws of Kenya, Trinity is a sup-plier of bulk Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Has been trading for almost eight years, during which it has established itself as Ken-ya’s leading supplier of bulk LPG, bulk LPG storage tanks and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fittings components. Also does high pressure LPG installations, centralised LPG supply systems for flats and apartments, bulk LPG tank installations industrial LPG in-stallation, burner system, laboratory instal-lations. Company’s goal is to be a ‘ONE STOP SHOP’ catering to the energy needs for both national and regional customers, providing services which are ahead of time in technol-ogy and after sales services.

ICT

71 Software Technologies Ltd

Was founded in 1991 and has since grown to deliver software solutions and services around Africa & the Middle East. STL de-velops its own software under the brand of eHorizon and focuses on providing Solutions & Services that address the areas of People, Processes & Governance. STL has over the last three years pioneered the utilization of Cloud computing to deliver solutions to its clients via its secured Cloud platform. This allows customers to focus on their core busi-ness while STL manages the entire Software & Hardware infrastructure. While many still talk of Cloud computing in theoretical terms, STL today provides its eHorizon solutions on a cloud platform to over 50 large corporate clients in Kenya including several govern-ment agencies and market regulators. Cloud solutions has enabled companies of all sizes including several SME’s to access world class solutions that had previously been either prohibitively expensive or extremely complex to administer. Improved internet penetration within the SME sector in East Af-rica has helped drive STL’s growth.

Amex Auto & Industries Hardware Limited officials receive their trophy from UAP Life managing director Jerim Otieno (right) during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. The firm was ranked in position 62. SALATON NJAU

Devsons Industries Limited officials receive their trophy from Paul Ouma (centre) of Strathmore Business School . The firms finished in position 56. SALATON NJAU

Dune Packaging Limited staff pose with their trophy after they finished in position 68.SALATON NJAU

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XXXIIIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

BY VICTOR AMADALA

Chigwell Holdings Limited is a real estate company that got off the starting blocks with-

out loans or capital, to reach more than Sh1 billion a year in sales in less than a decade.

Established in 2005 to satisfy the thirst of middle income earn-ers for affordable properties in Kenya, the company’s journey to success sounds like a fairy tale - complete with all the financial hurdles that typically challenge startups.

The company’s managing direc-tor, Nirish Shah, left Technical High School in Mombasa to go straight into business, selling toys and consumer products for a profit. The capital for the venture came from his parents,

who had noticed his business acumen while he was still a student.

The enterprising Nirish graduated over time into the hardware business, but in 1998

met a friend who sold him the idea of going into real estate. Armed with passion, energy and excellent busi-ness skills, which he had learnt from his uncle back in Mombasa, it was at

this point that he hit his first major financial roadblock.

Financial institutions would barely look at his proposals, with an ‘inadequate collateral for loan’ chorus echoed back at him over and over again.

With the limited savings he had accumulated from the hardware business, a determined Nirish started by buying small parcels of land in the upmarket Runda Estate in Nairobi

for sale at a profit. He ploughed the earnings back into his venture, tak-ing it to a steadily higher level. “‘Real entrepreneurship is about providing a solution to a problem. You don’t run away, instead you create solutions to avert the situation. Entrepreneurship is also more of taking risks,” Mr Shah told a Business Daily reporter who had sought to know his motivation to press on despite a card-deck of challenges. With the savings from

the land business, he found two other partners to set up the first of Chigwell projects in Nairobi’s Lang’ata estate at a cost of Sh250m. Phenom Park is a gated community that was completed in July 2013, with 214 semi-detached three bedroom town houses in a con-temporary design, complete with a commercial shopping area.

The company’s next project was 343 luxurious four bedroom mai-sonettes in Phenom Estate, built in four phases, along Nairobi’s South-ern bypass.

Along Nairobi-Mombasa highway is Sidai Village, built to another Chig-well Holding’s design that perhaps best demonstrates the company’s bold steps in real estate. In a previ-ous interview, Mr Shah laughed at the irony of banks sending propos-als to complete some of the compa-ny’s projects: the same banks that had shelved his proposals before the boom.

Instead, the company owes its success to high levels of credibil-ity, resilience, and experienced and hardworking staff, he said. Before initiating any project, the company ensures that all risks are reduced for clients. -AFRICAN LAUGHTER

Chigwell ≥ides wave of ≥eal estate boom to Hall of Fame

Steve Kuta of Chigwell Holdings poses with the CLUB 101 certificate after the company graduated to the league of enterprises with a turnover of more than Sh1 billion a year. SALATON NJAU

XXXIV BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

72 Avtech Systems Ltd

FINANCIAL SERVICES

73 AAR Credit

MANUFACTURING

74 Thika Wax Works Ltd

Has launched three new product lines this year, including the manufacture of eight dif-ferent sizes of paint brushes; importation and distribution of agro-chemicals that are used as crop enhancers and new genera-tion pest/mite/insect averters. Also imports and distributes a diverse range of irrigation equipment. Aims to build the above brand names in the market. Aspires to be the mar-ket leader for all its product lines. In 2015, shall be working towards getting ISO certifi-cation. Website: www.thikawaxworks.com for more information

MANUFACTURING

75 Eurocon Tiles Production

TRANSPORT

76 Polygon Logistics Ltd

Founded four years ago by Benjamin Omolo, previously MD of Skytrain (K) Ltd. Offers clearing and forwarding services for imports and exports shipments, air charter flight

services as well as airline cargo representa-tion. Aims to provide the most comprehen-sive logistics solutions to the satisfaction of clients. Has employed a team of 16 profes-sional staff who are passionate and dedi-cated to serving its clients. Has established partnerships with companies in most parts of the world – an achievement that enables the company to move cargo (perishables, personal effects, live animals, pharmaceu-ticals, machineries, human remains) to and from the remotest parts of the globe. Future plans include moving perishable cargo from the North East of Tanzania areas of Arusha and Moshi to Europe through JKIA. Also committed to good corporate governance, which has enabled the company to produce audited accounts since inception.

PETROLEUM

77 Rushab Petroleum Limited

ELECTRICITY

78 Prafulchandra & Brothers Ltd

RETAIL SECTOR (HEALTH FOOD STORES) AND WHOLESALE SECTOR (CHAIN STORES)

79 Healthy U 2000 Ltd

Serves its customers through improvement and enhancement of healthy lifestyles and provision of healthy food and advice. Has five business operation units including retail with 16 outlets across the country and one in Rwanda. Has recently opened a retail shop in the new Lavington Green Mall and another in Kisumu in the West End Mall. Also serving its customers through chain stores (Nakumatt, Uchumi, Tuskys, Naivas, and Chandarana). Runs a franchise with Nakumatt where it has a shop within a shop in the leading branches. Plans to open three new branches this year (the biggest to be in Thika Road Mall, Buffalo mall in Naivasha and Acacia mall in Uganda)

With another extensive openings of about five within first half of the year 2015. Also plans to expand the range of healthy prod-ucts.

MANUFACTURING

80 Sheffield Steel Systems Ltd

MANUFACTURING

81 Viro locks

MANUFACTURING

82 Specialized Aluminium Renovators Ltd

MANUFACTURING

83 Kenbro Industries Limited

DISTRIBUTORS OF MEDICAL EQUIPMEN

84 Nairobi Enterprises Ltd

OFFICE SUPPLIES

85 Office Dynamics Limited

HORTICULTURE

86 De Ruiter East Africa Ltd

COLD ROLLING STEEL

87 Brollo Kenya Ltd

Is a manufacturer of steel plates sheets and strips, cold formed profiles such as angles, channels, zed purlins and omega. Also deals in Brollo steel decking, roofing, cladding plain, galvanized and paint coated, circu-lar, square and rectangle structural hollow sections, galvanized & black steel pipes for water, gas, steam & irrigation. The company aims to be the best steel manufacturer in East and Central Africa and we are on the right path as of now.

AAR Credit Limited officials receive their trophy from Kevin Mulei of Mo Sounds (cent-er) during the gala night. The company was ranked position 73 in the survey.SALATON NJAU

Ndugu Transporters Limited officials receive their trophy from UAP Life managing director Jerim Otieno during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. The company was ranked position 64 in the survey. SALATON NJAU

Travenzo Trading Limited officials receive their trophy from NSE chairman Eddy Njoroge (right) during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night at the Carnivore on the night of October 10, 2014. The company was ranked position 69 in the survey. SALATON NJAU

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XXXVWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

BY VICTOR AMADALA

After being ranked several times in the Top 100 companies in Kenya, Complast Kenya Lim-

ited, a company dealing in plastic do-mestic items, was thirsty for the Club 101 honour that recognises companies that have crossed the Sh1bn mark in turnover.

Established in Kenya in 1995, Complast has become part and parcel of Kenyan households, thanks to its affordable domestic equipment, which includes basins, buckets, plates, mugs, crates, food containers, tables, and even chairs. According to the com-pany’s Managing Director Nizar Hem-raj, the entrepreneurial ambitions that

led to the birth of the company were coupled with a desire to give the major-ity poor in Africa a sense of belonging in terms of domestic items.

In early 2009, the company com-mitted itself to the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact in respect of human rights, labour rights, environ-mental conservation and anti-corrup-

tion, hence providing a conducive business en-vironment, both for its staff and the general public.

This has seen its more than 150 employ-

ees deliver their best for the company, forming a strong bond with clients and partners through quality products and services. Antony Mujera, a finance of-ficer at the company explained that the

quality of its products and services is the secret behind the growth of the com-pany. Boasting a 2008 ISO certification, Complast is a company of many firsts. It was the first company in East Africa to use the mono block injection mould-ing technology in the manufacturing of plastic furniture; it also pioneered safe manufacturing of domestic utensils us-ing the same technology in the region. “This technology erases harmful plas-

tic residues from our products hence ensuring the safe use by the end user,’’ explained Mujera.

Achieving this success has not been a walk in the park, however. ‘”High standards are set by the government and environmental organs when it comes to plastics. We are forced to un-dergo a bureaucratic and strict check list when importing raw materials for our products, hence eating into our

production and delivery times,” said Mujera. He also cited stiff competi-tion from large companies who use their financial muscles and powerful connections to dodge set import and production processes.

In addition, plastics are sensitive materials when it comes to the envi-ronment, hence the company is forced to keep vigil over its waste disposal and production procedures to avert any ad-verse impact on the community.

Despite all these challenges, Mujera explained that the quality of its prod-ucts and customer satisfaction has always motivated it to press on, with Complast sticking to its prime goals of wealth creation and affordable living standards for households at the bottom of the pyramid.

As well as supplying its products in Kenya and East Africa, the company has expanded its networks to West and Central Africa. According to Mu-jera, the company wants to fully sate the Kenyan market before opening branches in other parts in the conti-nent. He said that crossing into Club 101 was a preparation for the company for a next level of doing business that is quite demanding. -AFRICAN LAUGHTER

Complast b≥eaks Sh1bn ceiling afte≥ 4 attempts

Waki Waki dancers perform during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. FILE

AAR Credit Services Ltd Tel: (+ 254 020) 386 1673-51st Floor, Methodist Ministries Centre Mob: (+254 0718 ) 425 040, Oloitokitok Road,Lavington (+254 0736 ) 425 040.P.O. Box 101267-00101,Nairobi, KenyaE-Mail: credit@aar-credit.comWebsite: www.aarcredit.com

AAR Credit Services Ltd is a credit only microfinance institution registered in Nairobi in May 2000, as an offshoot of the AAR Group of Companies. It also has operations in Uganda.

Our mission, in AAR Credit Services Ltd, is to provide innovative and beneficial financial services that enrich the lives of our customers by offering them the following products.

Insurance Premium FinanceWe finance AAR Insurance premium by allowing AAR members to pay in easy instalments of up to 10 months. We also finance the payment of insurance premiums for all classes of general insurance cover underwritten by all insurance companies.

Asset FinanceWe have made it easier to purchase branded computers, laptops, printers, tablets and even mobile phones from

major vendors by offering quick and easy loans.

Logbook LoansYou can use your logbook to obtain quick and easy loans. We also finance purchase of new motor cycles.

SME LoansWe provide working capital financial support to small and medium sized businesses as well as funding in form of loans for growth and expansion.

Payroll Check-Off LoansThese are loans available to employees of enterprises that have signed an Agreement for staff loans with AAR Credit Services. We provide loans to individual employees with repayments done through monthly payroll deduction.

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farmers contracted by New KCC. The farmers are able to access quick and easy loans against milk supplied to New KCC.

Instant LoansWe fully embrace mobile money technology through our instant loans product. These are loans to employees whose employers have signed up the Instant loans Agreement with AAR Credit Services Limited or who already have an Agreement for staff loans with AAR Credit Services. Such employees are eligible to take up instant one month loans by making an application through their mobile phones.

AAR Credit Services Ltd runs its operations from its office at Methodist Ministries Centre, Oloitokitok Road, Nairobi, through a branchless banking business model. Loan application forms are available from its strategic business partners, who originate the majority of its customer loans.

John Kariuki The Founder and CEO

John Kariuki The Founder and CEO

George Ndonga (Left) the Finance Director and Rosemary Waweru (Right) the IPF Business Manager Receiving the Award from Kevin Mulei of Mo Sounds

XXXVI BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

FOOD PROCESSING

88 Melvin Marsh International Ltd

FOOD PRODUCTION AND FARMING

89 Sigma Supplies Ltd

Is Kenya’s forerunner in the management of totally integrated poultry farming. Poul-try operations cover the complete chicken production chain, which ranges from own automated feed mill, breeder farms, day old chicks hatchery, broiler farms to a Halal processing plant. Also runs a commercial layer farm that produces 100,000 table eggs a day sold under the Ideal Eggs brand in major super-market. Company has big expansion plans including an increase the production of processed chicken. Also looking to bring in some new ready to eat chicken products for e.g. smoked sausages, burgers, salami and chicken nuggets.

REATIL

90 Sensations Limited

Are sole distributors in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania for renowned travel-ling goods, perfumery, watches, sports-wear and sports equipment. Business was adversely affected by the unfortunate event that took place at Westgate Mall but business now on the path to recovery. Future plans are to procure more outlets at leading malls and in that respect have

started reserving spaces in up-coming malls.

PHARMACEUTICALS

91 Supreme Pharmacy Limited

Has a large market share in Nakuru County and neighboring county of Baringo. In-tends to venture in distributing to neigh-boring counties like Narok, Kericho, Laikip-ia and Nyandarua. We therefore thank our esteemed customers who have made us go this far, without them this milestone could not be achieved. We have a dedicat-ed team of employees who work tirelessly for this big achievement to come forth. Also we need to applause our suppliers who have partnered with us and helped us achieve this promising goal. All the stake-holders are hereby thanked and looking forward to do business with you in order to have a healthy society.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

92 Isolutions Associations

CONSULTANCY SERVICES

93 Kurrent Technologies Ltd

Is a leading integrated engineering, health, safety, social, environment and training consultancy in East and Central Africa. Was established in December 2001 and consistently provides professional con-sulting services to the energy and manu-facturing sectors. Prides itself in delivering end-to-end solutions to its clients in a cost effective manner through a combination of advanced technologies, proven proc-esses and outstanding personnel. KTL works in accordance with the Equator Principles and has met the requirements of projects that are partially funded by the World Bank Group (WBG), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and The African Development Bank (AfDB). Has a presence in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Botswana. KTL associates with more 20 international consulting firms to undertake major en-ergy projects in the region.

ICT

94 Total Solutions

Is a professional compatible toner distribu-tor of ColourSoft Laser Toners (Laser ton-ers for HP / Samsung and Canon Printers

Total Office Solutions Limited officials pose with their trophy during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. The firm finished 53rd in the survey. SALATON NJAU

Furniture Rama Limited officials receive their trophy from Nation Media Group finance director Stephen Gitagama (right. The firm was ranked 52. SALATON NJAU

BY ANDREW AWITI

An investment of Sh5m and a staff of nine lay the founda-tion, in 1997, for Union Logis-

tics Limited, which is now register-ing a turnover in excess of Sh1bn a year, seeing the logistics and supply chain solution provider enter Club 101 in 2014.

The journey for Union Logistics has not been as rosy as its current success would suggest. Ac-cording to Hasmukh Radia, director of Un-ion Logistics Ltd, staff training was a major impediment to the firm, which sought to set itself apart from rivals in the lo-gistics industry by raising the bar on service delivery.

In order to achieve this, Union Logistics Ltd had its staff trained by the firm’s German-based global net-work partners, UTI, with whom they have served the East African market since 1997.

The high level of training, coupled with an organisational culture that cultivates a passion for providing customers with solutions tailored for their businesses, have been the keys to the rise of the firm in Kenya’s fast growing and highly competitive logistics industry.

“All our members of staff are trained to listen and understand our clients’ needs and demands and sat-isfy them as per their expectations. We employ staff who we continuously train in order to have customer service as part of the culture in the company,” said Mr Radia.

This level of dedicated focus on saw Union Logistics Ltd achieve the first ISO certification in its sector, in

2003. Seven years later, in 2010, the firm broke into the prestigious Top 100 Awards, where it featured for three consecutive years.

It has been an affirmation of the returns on diligence. But the company has also benefited from its location and choice of industry.

“The infrastructure in Kenya has played a major role in getting us where we are as a company, especially as a

nerve centre for region-al transport. Nairobi, be-ing a big business hub, has a high frequency of flights. The Port of Mombasa is a facility that remains unrivalled

in the region. For our freight forward-ing business, we are situated right at the heart of East African business,” said Mr Radia.

This has seen the coveted large local and regional contracts that all small and medium enterprises lust for start to find their way to the firm’s headquarters in Plaza 2000, along Mombasa Road.

Union Logistics Ltd has handled shipments for major mining compa-nies in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. It has also handled large oil and gas movement to South Sudan from Mombasa.

For Mr Radia, making it to the Club 101 is not an end in itself, but a checkpoint on the road. The business success in the Kenyan market has seen Union Logistics Limited set its eyes on replicating these achievements across the region. The firm aims to achieve similar growth within neighbouring countries and extend its reach to pro-vide excellent and world class supply chain solutions.-AFRICAN LAUGHTER

Union Logistics navigates tough te≥≥ain to the top

Mr Hasmukh Radia, Union Logistics director, sits on the Red Chair after his firm graduated to the Club 101 during this year’s TOP 100 SMEs gala dinner held at Nairobi’s Carnivore grounds.SALATON NJAU

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XXXVIIWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

The creative team at Ark Construction Ltd conceptualizes what their client envisions, giving forth cutting-edge top quality interiors that enhance the image of their client.

Ark Construction Ltd has been in the interiors and general building works for only five years. However, to say

that the firm is being felt in the sector is an under-statement. Ark Construction Ltd is simply ahead of their game, and their thirst for innovative architectural interiors has brought into Kenya global trends in building aesthetics.

Ark Construction breaks grounds in building interiorsBy MILLICENT MWOLOLO >>> mmwololo@ke.nationmedia.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP 100MID-SIZED COMPANIES 2014

Maasai Mall.

CLUB 2014

Chase Bank Delta. UNHCR.

Flamigo Casino at Forties Tower in Westlands.

Genghis Capital Ltd – office fit-out at Delta Tower in Westlands 3rd floor

Trans Business Machine Ltd – Office fit-out at Upper hill.

GT Bank Sky Plaza.

So, it was no surprise when such a young company emerged the torch-bearer in the interiors and general building works in this year’s search for Kenya’s Top 100 Mid-sized companies. Ark Construction Ltd took the 17th position, and it was the first time a construction company emerged in the Top 100. “Given the nature and quality of our work, we deserved it,” states Mr. Bharat Kerai, the project manager at Ark Construction Ltd, Nairobi.

This is no mean feat for Ark Construc-tion Ltd and speaks volumes of them. For them to have come far much ahead of their competitors is a big win, espe-cially when being surveyed by reputable companies like KPMG and the Nation Media Group.

Ark Construction Ltd specializes in in-teriors and general building works. “This is our core area of business,” empha-sizes Mr. Bharat, a Bachelor of Business graduate from the University of Kent in the UK. The firm however, has a niche in building interiors.

The creative team at Ark Construc-

tion Ltd conceptualizes what their client envisions, giving forth cutting-edge top quality interiors that enhance the image of their client. Each client is given indi-vidualized attention.

Unlike many interiors and general building works companies, Ark Con-struction Ltd confidently tries out new materials. “We always challenge ourselves to make use of high quality expensive materials that are difficult to handle,” Mr. Bharat shares.

The team of 40 at Ark Construction Ltd is driven to be the best in what they do. In deed, they handle high-profile jobs and deliver world-class finishes within short time-lines.

“Our bottom-line is customer satisfac-tion,” Mr. Bharat states. This has gar-nered Ark Construction Ltd a reputation in the market.

The firm stands out in the fact that they do business in a responsible man-ner, only taking on projects that are within their capacity to deliver. “We give each client a personalized touch,” Mr. Bharat shares.

This has seen Ark Construction Ltd take on major projects, stifling competi-tion. Some of their recently completed projects include: Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), UNCHR, GTBank, Nairobi Java House, Flamingo Casino, Aureos Capital, East Africa Cables, Price Wa-terhouse Coopers, Treetop Lodge, Metropolitan Hospital in Buruburu, and many others. Indeed, Ark Construction is the brains behind the new VIP lounge

for the new terminal at JKIA. Being amongst Kenya’s Top 100 Mid-

sized is very special to Ark Construction Ltd. However, Mr. Bharat is to the opin-ion that their work has just begun. “Go-ing forward, we have to improve on the quality of our work through continuous innovations,” he says.

By the look of things, Ark Construc-tion Ltd took off in 2009 on the right footing with an annual turn over of Sh500 to Sh600 million. The next two

the government is fighting insecurity and making it easier for investments in the building and construction sector. However, much is needed,” he alludes.

Ark Construction Ltd has their feet down in building interiors, but they want to firmly grip onto general building and civil engineering works. “We want to pull over Sh1 billion in tender amounts. As a company we have a lot of potential in terms of labour and machinery,” Mr. Bharat says optimistically.

years saw a significant growth in annual turnover of between Sh700 million to Sh800 million. “There was a lot of construction boom which saw many jobs in the market,” Mr. Bharat recalls. In 2012 to 2013 the firm recorded an annual turn over of close to Sh900 million.

However, 2013 -2014 saw the annual turn over dip into a slump of Sh700 million. The insecurity that gripped the country and the politically charged situation saw less multi-national companies invest-ment in the building and construction sector.

Fortunately, business is looking up and is better than it was six months ago, says Mr. Bharat. “This re-affirms the believe that

XXXVIII BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

that are on average 50 per cent - 60 per cent more economical than Original Ton-ers) and the largest dealers of Refurbished Copiers in East Africa with over 400 copi-ers in stock at any given time. Our plans are to further penetrate the corporate sector with our products offer-ing more value to clients who are inter-ested in cutting down on their operational costs, whilst maintaining quality and in-tegrity. Intends to do this with a highly trained, evolving and intelligent sales force that seeks to meet the needs of prospective clients, and bring about a win-win situa-tion for the mutual benefit of both organi-sations.

PLUMBING

95 Trident Plumbers Ltd

TRAVEL

96 Palbina Travel Ltd

TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS

97 Tabaki Freight Services

Is a 100 per cent Kenyan company with its East African headquarters in Nairobi and offices in Mombasa, Kampala (Uganda) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). The company has been in existence for over 15 years as a clearing and forwarding company. It weaves world class brokerage services into a global network with multi-modal transportation capabilities, an unrivaled distribution

system and superior information technology that offers its clients total logistics solutions. Range of services includes air and sea export and import freight, customs clearance, break bulk handling, packing & removals, warehousing, and distribution logistics services. Tabaki Freight Services International Ltd is the exclusive agent for a.hartrodt in East and Central Africa. A.hartdort is a German major forwarder with offices in over 80 countries. Tabaki Freight Services International Ltd is a fully paid up member of the International Air Transport Association, the Kenya International Freight Forwarding & Warehousing Association and the Internatinal Federation of Freight Forwarders Association.

HOSPITALITY

98 Hotel Waterbuck Limited

TOURS AND TRAVEL

99 Xtreme Adventures Limited

TOUR AND TRAVEL

100 Satguru Travel And Tours

Tabaki Freight Services official (right) receives a trophy from Elizabeth Kyengo of NMG during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. The company was ranked in posi-tion 97 in the survey. SALATON NJAU

Satguru Travel and Tours official Chetan Kshirsagar (left) receives his trophy from Nation Media Group’s Elizabeth Kyengo during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. The company was ranked 100th in the survey. SALATON NJAU

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

BY RONALD COHEN AND WILLIAM A. SAHLMAN

During the past centu-ry, governments and charitable organiza-

tions have mounted massive efforts to address social prob-lems such as poverty, lack of education, and disease. Gov-ernments around the world are straining to fund their commitments to solve these problems and are limited by old ways of doing things.

Social entrepreneurs are stultified by traditional forms of financing. Donations and grants don’t allow them to in-novate and grow. They have virtually no access to capital markets and little flexibil-ity to experiment at various stages of growth. The biggest obstacle to scale for the social sector is this lack of effective funding models.

But the problem is not money, per se. Take a look at the social sector in the US. There are $700 billion of foundation assets, and 10 million people working for

non-profits. These are huge numbers. Yet there are mas-sive inefficiencies in capital allocation.

Too often donors starve organisations and entrepre-neurs by refusing to cover overhead. This makes it im-possible for social organisa-tions to scale. Interviews con-ducted in 2000 by the Social Investment Task Force in the United Kingdom, revealed what most nonprofit lead-ers already know: Almost all social sector organizations are small and perennially underfunded, with barely three months’ worth of work-ing capital at their disposal. And that hasn’t changed in the last 12 years.

Compare that to the world of venture capital. If a busi-ness entrepreneur came to us with a plan for growing a new business without spend-ing a penny on overhead, we would show him or her the door. Why should it be any different for a social entre-preneur?

We believe we are on the

threshold of a major change not unlike the early days of the modern venture capital industry. In the mid-1960s and early 1970s, a new type of investment vehicle was created: the professionally managed venture capital partnership.

This organisational inno-vation drew investment cap-ital from institutional play-ers like pension funds and endowments and allowed for appropriate time hori-zons. Soon venture capital became a core part of many economies and those bold moves changed everything. Entrepreneurship has never been the same.

Just as the formation of the venture capital industry ushered a new approach and mindset toward funding in-novation within the private sector, impact investment has started to bring opportunities to harness entrepreneurship and capital markets to drive social improvement. This in time will bring much needed change to the social sector.

Social impact investing will be the new ventu≥e capital',%&"+ &+.$-)&+( )&*&.$#

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XXXIXWednesday October 29, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY

BY SILVIA MWENDIA

For close to 50 years, Ken-Knit (K) Ltd has been a key player in textile manu-facturing. Begun by five brothers as a small family business with just one machine, 10 people and capital of Sh 1m, it has now grown into a regional company with an annual turnover close to Sh1.5bn and over 1,500 em-ployees.

Since 1966, Ken-Knit has been manu-facturing blankets, Masaai shukas, wool, bed sheets and other textiles.

“Nearly 50 years ago, my father and his four brothers be-gan Ken-Knit in Kitale after seeing a demand for textiles,” said Financial Director Ravi Shah.

Although initially started in Kitale,

the company is now based in Uasin Gishu county, following a family move to Eldoret many years ago.

Efficiency and quality has been at the heart of Ken-Knit over the decades and has seen the company continu-ously revamp itself. “The mid 1980’s witnessed the establishment of a ‘woven blanket manufacturing unit’ with an annual capacity of one million blankets ensuring that teh ‘Seagull

Checks’ and ‘Winter King’ brands become household names,” said Ravi.

The following decade saw Ken-Knit acquire a ‘Printing & Raising Ma-

chine’ which was exclusively for knit-wear. It was the first of its kind in East Africa. “Good, efficient equipment is of such high importance to the com-pany that we set aside $500,000 dol-

lars yearly just for our machinery,” said Ravi. The constant upgrading has not come without its fair share of challenges, however. “Counterfeit products, and second-hand clothes are problems we constantly encoun-ter,” said Ravi, adding that there is no level playing field. The company has, nonetheless, scored many nota-ble achievements.

“Our most notable achievement would have to be the acquisition of Raymonds Wollen Mills in 2003. The

company, which was re-named Rupa Mills Ltd, is the leading manufacturer of a 100 per cent wool products and works with sheep rearing farmers to make quality wool for the manufac-ture of relief blankets,” said Ravi.

In 2006, Ken-Knit also won the Kenya Revenue Authority Distin-guished Taxpayer of the Year Award for its compliance in paying taxes.

This year, Ken-Knit was among the six Kenyan companies that entered the Club 101, after making over Sh1bn

in turnover and having previously par-ticipated in KPMG’s and Business Dai-ly’s Top 100 competition.

For the last two years, the textile manufacturing company had applied for the contest, but was not ranked. However, this year, it was able to do even better than making the rankings by entering the prestigious Club 101. Ravi attributes this leap to continuous improvement in Ken-Knit’s products, and venturing into new markets.

Ken-Knit hopes to continue grow-ing its influence and consolidating its newly acquired position. “Just this year we moved into the Zambian mar-ket. We are also in Zimbabwe and Ma-lawi and export to Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and the DRC,” said Ravi. The company’s main exports to these coun-tries include kikoys, blankets, sweat-ers and maasai shukas.

Ken-Knit also exports internation-ally, to Europe, India and China. “We mostly export wool to these regions, with to 10 per cent of our products go-ing to these parts of the world,” said Ravi.Overall, Ken-Knit exports 50 per cent of the products it manufactures. It now hopes to become the leading textile company in East and Central Africa, which it believes necessitates giving back to the community and the Kenyan market. -AFRICAN LAUGHTER

Ken-Knit spins its way to sitting among the g≥eat

Dancers from Kamini School of Dancing perform during the TOP 100 Mid-sized Companies gala night. SALATON NJAU

THE FASTEST GROWING MID-SIZED BUSINESSES IN KENYA

XL BUSINESS DAILY | Wednesday October 29, 2014

On the fast trackWhatever you need to grow and expand, we will support you.

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