A Kisumu Fisherman – A Small Fleet supports Two Families

This week I was finally able to arrange an interview with one of our many local fisherman. Samuel is an ambitious man who has grown one boat into three and has the welfare of two families on his shoulders. Here he explain to me when, why, and how he has found success in the Kisumu’s private fishing industry.

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I am Samuel Ouma Osir, 28 years of age, and married with two children. I live in Kisumu which is my home village and my business location.

I began my fishing business back in 1990. Initially, I worked another man’s boat. Four years after I began working, however, I was able to finally make my own boat. The boat was small, costing only 20,000 KSH ($250), but it was mine. Unfortunately, that first boat capsized and was long. Luckily, no one was kill. With the assistance of my church, I was able to contract the building of a new larger boat. This boat is still in use today.

On most days, I average about 1,000 KSH ($13.oo)  profit per day. When everything goes well and we have a good catch, however, I can make as much as 3,000 KSH (38$) profit.

Before I entered the fish business, I was engaged in selling spare tires for motor vehicle. The business was not going well and I was laid off. That was when I joined the fish business.

I have profited from this business now owning  four goats, a local poultry house, and have plans  to build a rental houses on my small plot of land.

Benefits that I have encounter in this business are: I can afford three to four meals daily, I am self-employed, and my children have the opportunity to access education and medication. I am also able to support my brother’s family and provide resources for my wife’s business efforts.

There are few challenges that I face in these business: government policy shuts down fishing activity for three months yearly, price fluctuation, and there is no standard price of fish (editor: a lack of communication or current market price).

I am proud because I have managed to buy two more boats and my business is expanding. My advice to fellow youths is that they should work hard and save little by little until they make something tangible to be proud and count on.

-Dan Odhiambo

HEAL Micro Loans: Vitalis Odek

Vitalis is one of the first individuals provided a micro capital loan for the establishment of a small business in Kisumu.  As a child, Vitalis developed paralytic poliomyelitis which has limited his ability to walk unaided.  Alternating crutches and a modified bicycle, however, Vitalis is remarkably mobile.

The business plan that Vitalis brought to HEAL centered on bulk purchasing of eggs and fruit with organized distribution to local restaurants, hotels, and street vendors.  The plan presented five ways in which Vitalis hopes to capitalize on the lack of delivered produce in Kisumu:

1. Offer door to door deliveries utilizing boda-boda (bicycle taxis)
2. Control pricing through relationship with suppliers
3. Focus on tenders (short-term contracts) with businesses with steady demand
4. Focus on reliability and timely deliveries
5. Maintain cleanliness and high quality

The HEAL Micro was granted in late August with repayment to begin on October 15^th.

Below is a brief conversation Dan had with Vitalis this September.

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Today I was lucky to meet a well focused man who easily proves that disability is not inability.  Vitalis Ojwang Odek is 29 years of age and not married.  His home village is Nyakach, but he has relocated to Kisumu for increased opportunities.   Over the last year Vitalis has started a business selling eggs – recently expanding to include the sale of local fruits and vegetables.  In 2004, Vitalis earned his Diploma in Accountancy from the International Correspondent School.  Due to a tough job market, however, he has been unable to find steady employ in that field.

Vitalis decided on an egg delivery business because of the identified demand for the service and the small startup capital required. HEAL originally provided an initial grant of 6,000 KSH (75.00 USD) along with some advice on making and maintaining a business plan. This push was enough to move forward and begin to make some small profits.

Since that time, changing demand and significant price fluctuation in fresh eggs required diversification into a wider array of produce.  With the assistance of his HEAL micro loan, Vitalis now employs three part-time staff for transport and delivery using “boda- boda” and has increased his ability to hold a steady stock of products.  He currently maintains client relationships with several local hotels and a number of local shop keepers which allows for a small but steady profit for his efforts.  “I am still some way from needing to pay taxes,” Vitalis admits. “But, I’m closer than I was a year ago.”

Being a successful man, Vitalis now has people who rely on him – now  paying school fees for his four younger brothers (two in primary and two in secondary school).  When asked about his feelings on this family support – Vitals replied, “It’s responsibility, and can be a burden, but it feels very good to be able to do it”.

- Dan Odhiambo