Thika businessman Kimani wa Makaratasi, the man who borrowed a Ksh 1,600 M-Shwari loan and later turned it into a multi-million business, is now reaping big from the manufacture of paper bags.
Kimani started his paper bag manufacturing business after the Kenyan government banned the use of nylon bags.
Seeing the ban as an opportunity, he recognized the market gap for eco-friendly packaging alternatives and decided to venture into the industry.
“I began with a loan of Ksh 1,699 from M-Shwari. It is on record. When I saw it growing, I knew this was God’s love,” he says.
He explained that he wanted to change the narrative in the packaging industry by developing a sustainable business solution. “It was a new dawn, and I decided to be part of changing the narrative in the packaging industry. I developed a business model to offer a sustainable solution, and that’s how Jamii Products Limited was born,” he adds.
He now produces khaki paper products, sourcing raw materials from Tanzania.
Among the products he manufactures are bags, khaki rolls, book covers, cake boxes, envelopes, gift bags, and popcorn bags.
