“A good bicycle should not turn you from a cyclist to a fundi (mechanic).” This is what Jackson Muriuki believes.

For 10 years now, Mr Muriuki has been in the business of selling Ex- UK bicycles, after he left his journalism profession to fully venture into business.

It all started after his father bought him a bicycle from a relative who had relocated back to Kenya from the UK at Ksh 2,000. Then a form one student, Mr Muriuki was excited to own a bike.

In 2000, after having the bike for a while, one of his friends requested him to sell the bike to him which he did at Ksh 12,000.

From then, Mr Muriuki would purchase bicycles in Nakuru town and then resell them in Njoro, making a small profit.

At one point, he bought two bicycles and they all sold out. This motivated him to stock more.

Some of the adult bikes displayed in Mr Jackson Muriuki's showroom in Nakuru town.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Around 2013, Mr Muriuki’s wife decided to invest in the business and gave him a starting capital of Ksh 300,000.

“With that money, I did my first shipment of 300 bicycles and started selling them on the streets of Nakuru and at Maasai market on weekends,” he adds.

Mr Muriuki then took a loan of One million shillings and bought 800 bicycles, kick starting his business.

“I import my bicycles from Scotland. The bicycles arrive in parts which are then assembled by my bicycle mechanics,” he says.

At his shop, Mr Muriuki sells both the normal bike and the sports bike which range from Ksh 6,000 to 150,000 depending on the size and brand.

“We stock a big range of bicycles from different brands like Shimano whereas for models we have kids’ bikes, Mountain bikes, three-speed bikes, road bikes, and BMX among others,” he notes.

Some of the bicycles displayed by Mr Jackson Muriuki at Riva petrol station, opposite Ereto book shop in Nakuru town.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

He displays his bicycles at Riva petrol station behind Naivas supermarket, opposite Ereto book shop.

Mr Muriuki supplies bicycles nationwide and hopes to sell the bicycles across Africa.

Other than business, Mr. Muriuki is an environmental champion and has been named Nakuru’s Environmental Ambassador, for championing zero gas emission through cycling.

wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

'My wife gave me Sh 300,000 to start my bicycle business'

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Purity Kinuthia