What started as a dare from his boss to operate a drone during a music video shoot, has evolved into a profitable business for Daniel Munene.

In 2015, Munene embarked on his drone pilot journey after his boss purchased a drone for the music studio that he was working in.

At the time, none of the employees at the studio knew how to fly it.

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Led by curiosity, Munene picked up the gadget, determined to master it.

“I called one of my friends in Eldoret who was a drone pilot and asked him to talk me through the process. A few minutes later the drone was in the air, taking photos and videos,” Munene says proudly.

That brief session sparked an interest in Munene drawing him to seek more knowledge on the gadget.

A few You Tube videos and friendly advice later, Munene became so skilled that his boss sold him the drone.

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“Armed with some savings, I decided to leave the music studio and venture into the drone piloting job. The start was rough since jobs were scarce and getting a drone operating licence was a very long process,” he laments.

Daniel Munene makes up to Sh 300,000 a month from drone piloting.

Photo credit: COURTESY

This year in February, Munene was finally able to obtain a license by enrolling in Drone Space in Nairobi, a privilege not accessible to all aspiring drone pilots due to the high cost.

His success allowed him to buy four more drones, making him the most sought after drone pilot in Nakuru.

At 25, Munene is now a licensed drone pilot which has helped him move from doing free jobs for exposure, to making an average of Sh 300,000 per month.

"I have received many referrals from past clients. This gives me motivation to keep working hard and produce quality work every time," Munene notes.

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His dedication has led to collaborations and opportunities beyond his expectations, including his work being showcased in one of the international television stations and coverage during the summits of Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Munene has built a brand, started a company, and expanded to Nairobi's more competitive market, while still having a foothold in Nakuru.

mercykihugu@gmail.com

How I turned my drone flying hobby into a moneymaking business

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Mercy Kihugu