Stacey Auma’s rise to success is a powerful testament to the strength of determination, resilience, and hard work. Her journey serves as an inspiration to anyone striving to achieve their dreams despite facing significant obstacles.
Stacey began her entrepreneurial journey selling secondhand clothes on the streets of Nairobi. This was no easy feat, as she and her fellow traders were frequently targeted by county government officials, who would arrest them for operating without permits.
Despite these setbacks, Stacey remained committed to finding a way to make a living. She distributed her CVs widely in search of employment, but with no success.
Faced with the challenge of securing a steady income, Stacey explored other avenues. She began by washing clothes for residents of the Greenspan area in Nairobi. However, after enduring severe back pain, she had to give up that line of work.
“I used to wash clothes for people in the Greenspan area, but I reached a point where I couldn’t continue due to severe back pain,” Stacey recalled in a past interview.
Her mother then suggested she try food vending. Stacey gave it a shot, but after four months of losses, she decided to walk away from that business as well.
“I’ve tried several businesses before finally focusing on the Mitumba trade. I started as a laundrywoman, then became a hawker selling clothes. I even sold fish. I was a successful hawker in Nairobi’s CBD until a friend introduced me to selling Mitumba bales,” she shared in an interview with Bizna.
Determined to find success, Stacey visited Gikomba Market with only Sh. 1,000. With that, she purchased 30 sweater tops for Sh. 30 each, selling them at Sh. 100 each, making a profit of Sh. 70 per item.
From there, she expanded her business to selling jumpers. On her very first day, she was arrested, but that didn’t deter her. The next day, she returned and sold out all of her jumpers.
“I was arrested at 6 pm and released at 9 pm. I had to call my mother to send me bus fare because I hadn’t sold anything. But the next day, I returned and sold all the jumpers. That was a huge boost to my morale,” she explained.
Her success in selling jumpers motivated her to team up with other women, pooling their resources to purchase a container of bales. Once the bales arrived, they divided them and started selling, working together to grow their businesses.
Today, Stacey owns two stores—one on the first floor of Orange House in Gikomba Market and another on Mathigu Rd in Ruiru, opposite the Coca-Cola Depot. She sells her goods both wholesale and retail, offering second-hand clothes, shoes, toys, and more. Stacey also leverages social media to market her products.
One of the initial hurdles Stacey faced was securing enough capital to start her business. She took out a loan to help finance her venture. Another challenge was the unpredictability of the Mitumba bales, which sometimes contained low-quality items that led to losses. In such cases, Stacey shares the financial burden with her customers, though she also faces challenges from dissatisfied buyers.
“Some customers don’t understand that Mitumba bales can sometimes be disappointing. To help, I offer free mentorship to anyone interested in joining the business,” she explained.
Despite these obstacles, Stacey has built a thriving business through persistence and hard work.
In addition to running her business, Stacey is also a qualified football coach. She currently serves as the assistant coach for Weprosa Unified in Ruiru, Gwakairu.
“Since we’re closed on Sundays, I use that time for our league matches at 3 pm, and we train daily from 5:30 pm to 7 pm,” she said.
To aspiring entrepreneurs, Stacey offers this advice: “Go for it! The best will come if you’re ready to invest your time and energy. Always put God first.”
Looking ahead, Stacey’s goal for the next five years is to expand her business, opening branches across the country and becoming the most trusted brand in East Africa.
