No Enough Role Models in Entrepreneurship Industry in Kenya?

Most Kenyans have been complaining about the lack of enough role models in the entrepreneurship category. This either means that we don’t have enough entrepreneurs or we have enough entrepreneurs but they are not showing the expected characteristics of entrepreneurs as far world syllabus on characteristics of entrepreneurs is concerned. In Kenya, business or rather entrepreneurship is viewed as an act of uneducated people. The so called uneducated people or unlearned people include people who did not attend high school, college or university.

But let’s look at some of the best businesses and companies in Kenya and who runs them. Take a minute to think about some of the best companies and businesses around you. Your most brainstormed ideas may be foreign businesses and companies but I am pretty sure that you found some Kenyan companies and businesses. You may know Homeboyz Entertainment, Kaka Empire, Omaera Pharmaceuticals and Makini Group of Schools. Who do you think owns them? Most of them were started by young and energetic youths at their respective years of establishments. Homeboyz Entertainment was started by Myke Rabar, Kaka Empire by King Kaka, Omaera by Benard and Njoroge when they were still students at the University of Nairobi and Makini Schools by Mary Okello. There are many great businesses which are run by Kenyans, these include the likes of Royal Media Services by SK Macharia, Chandaria’s Industries by Manu Chandaria, Seechem by Evelyn Mungai and much more.

It is not a matter of enough role models in the game, it is a matter of hard work and commitment. Be passionate about what you are doing. Never define yourself by the external factors that happen around you. We have great people doing great things in Kenya, so if you say that there are not enough role models then you will wait until you die. Entrepreneurship is not a game of unlearned people because SK Macharia holds a degree, Richard Branson studied “a lot”, Steve Jobs too studied.