From vending timber to building a thriving hardware and construction enterprise

By Evans Ongwae

After completing college, Willis Ouma left his home in Homa Bay county and went to Nairobi in search of employment. A certified public accountant (CPA), he believed he would get a job in his professional line. But his ‘tarmacking’ efforts bore no fruit.

Disappointed, Ouma left Nairobi for Kisumu, where he started doing odd jobs. Then an idea hit him. How about employing himself? He narrates: “As I moved around doing vibarua (odd jobs), I debated with myself and identified hardware business as one that I could try.”

For a person who hadn’t been employed, that was a challenging prospect because he lacked the necessary funds to raise capital. Nonetheless, he gathered courage and started the business with the little savings he had.

And so he went back to his hometown Homa Bay, and established Komolo Enterprises, a hardware shop. “It's amazing that I ended up not being employed anywhere, but becoming an employer,” he reflects.

Ouma started small, with just timber. Then he brought in iron sheets, cement, and paint. Later on, he added plumbing items and iron bars, and then construction finishing goods that included doors, and ceiling boards. These later additions, he explains, were financed by the Co-operative Bank of Kenya, popular as Co-op Bank.

“My first account was with the Co-op Bank of Kenya. I have maintained it to date. I've also managed to open more accounts with them, and they’ve remained my biggest financiers,” he says, and adds: “The main facility that has enabled us to move without fearing to handle any supply, be it small or big, is the stock financing.”

Ouma continues: “The bank has really given us good service, and they are fast.”

He adds that the bank has also facilitated his contractor business with short loans. His clients now include the national and county governments, among others.

He occasionally applies for the e-loan option and says the system works fast, and is accurate.

“In Homa Bay, the Co-op Bank staff have been supportive to this business of mine,” he stresses, and adds: “I tend to like their performance bonds; the bid bonds. In fact, I collect all my bid bonds from Co-operative Bank. So far, I've not noticed any shortcomings about their performances. So, in terms of guarantees, they've always been very helpful to my construction department.”

K’Omolo Enterprises also transports quarry materials. Mr Ouma says that the enterprise is in the process of acquiring at least one vehicle for transposition: “At least a four-ton canter truck,” he points out.

He sees his relationship with the bank flourishing further. “It is the only bank that I've identified to support my business endeavours,” he says. “They've been very cooperative with me.”

Mr Ouma acknowledges that the loan application procedures notwithstanding, the bank makes the process fulfilling and comfortable.

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