In 2019, Peter Mwarangu and his two friends John Wamwere, and Allan Mukuana left a night club in Nakuru at around 11pm to go home.

On reaching Mwarangu’s house, the trio unanimously agreed that they yearned for Ugali and Nyama Choma. The only way to get this beloved meal to their table was to send a boda boda rider whom they had come to depend on for such errands.

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Unfortunately, that night, the rider was unavailable.

Frustrated by the lack of alternatives and the exorbitant cost of using a taxi for a simple meal delivery, the three embarked on a brainstorming session aimed at finding a solution to this problem.

A few months later, Munchiz Delivery Company was born.

Peter Mwarangu, one of the founders of Munchiz delivery company.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

"Allan was the tech-savvy mind of the group. He created the essential application. John and I conducted exhaustive market research, trying to understand Nakuru’s food delivery dynamics and customer desires,” Mwarangu says.

He adds that the three pooled their savings of Sh 250,000 and after eight months of relentless dedication, Munchiz came to life.

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With only six riders the trio hoped for an influx of orders. But this did not happen.

“Following the business launch, we received only two orders which was a slower start than we anticipated,” Mwarangu recalls.

However, this setback did not dampen their determination. Instead, they intensified their marketing efforts which Mwarangu says bore fruits, as Nakuru residents began warming up to the food delivery app.

In 2021, with a substantial following on the platform, Munchiz experienced a cyber-attack that cost the business Sh 50,000 within the few hours that the system was hacked.

“This was a learning moment for us which forced us to improve our system.”

Mwarangu now says Nakuru's diverse market has proven to be a fertile ground for Munchiz, adding that the city's growing demand for delivery services encouraged them to provide top-notch service and attractive incentives.

However, the rising cases of insecurity in Nakuru city poses a challenge to the business.

"With the recent security concerns in Nakuru, most restaurants close early. The riders as well tend to be sceptical about making deliveries past 9pm," Mwarangu says.

Peter Mwarangu (second left) and Allan Mukuana ( third left) with officials and Munchiz delivery riders at their office in Nakuru.

Photo credit: COURTESY

Despite these challenges, Munchiz continues to thrive and expand its reach.

“We are currently operating in Nakuru and Juja and hope to expand to Eldoret soon.”

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The company is in collaboration with nine dedicated riders in Nakuru and have forged partnerships with nearly 90 local businesses offering a span of restaurant delights, groceries, supermarket essentials, and beverages.

mercykihugu@gmail.com

Biz Lounge: A craving for nyama choma births food delivery business idea

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Mercy Kihugu