Wambua Kinyao’s entrepreneurial journey began during his primary school years, when he managed around twelve beehives, harvesting and selling honey. After completing his primary education, he enrolled in a local polytechnic to study motor vehicle mechanics. He later moved to Nairobi, where he found work at a butchery.
However, after a few months in the city, he returned home and used his savings of Ksh 2,800 to start a honey-selling business. He purchased honey from local farmers and sold it while cycling around the area, also offering utensils and other goods during the off-season.
Eventually, Wambua opened a kiosk in Ulilinzi Town, where he expanded his offerings to include hides, cereals, and clothing. With time, he saved enough money to buy a second-hand tractor equipped with a disc plough, which he rented out to local farmers. His success continued, and he was soon able to purchase two trucks for transporting cereals to the market.
Wambua then expanded his business portfolio by opening a hardware store and a wholesale grocery shop in his community. Unfortunately, these ventures failed due to financial constraints, forcing him to sell his tractor and trucks after unsuccessful attempts to revive the business.
Facing a period of uncertainty, Wambua secured a Ksh 500,000 loan from a local bank and relocated to Kibwezi Town. In 2006, he established a hardware store in the area, leveraging his industry knowledge to outpace his competitors. Over time, he acquired a fleet of trucks and diversified his investments into real estate, purchasing residential properties.
In 2013, Wambua entered the fuel industry after being advised against investing in education. Initially, he had considered establishing a school or a maize milling operation. Starting with just one tanker, he now operates 14 outlets and provides bulk fuel deliveries to other merchants. His most recent petrol station was inaugurated in Oloitoktok, Kajiado County, on December 25, 2022.
Wambua has focused on serving boda boda riders, recognizing them as a significant yet largely untapped market. “We deliver fuel very close to where they operate, realizing that motorcycle taxis form a substantial part of the market,” he explained.
