Success stories often begin with humble beginnings, and Moses Murithi’s journey is a testament to this truth. As a university student in engineering at Kenyatta University, Murithi faced financial hardships like many students, navigating the challenging conditions on campus. In the pursuit of survival, he, like others, relied on student loans from the Higher Education Loans Board.
The Turning Point
With a determination to break free from financial constraints, Murithi sought alternative means to make money. He knew he had to find a way to make money, as this loan would suffice only for a short period. His first venture was online writing, and he was able to make extra money with an online writing and data entry job. Despite having no prior knowledge, his determination made him take a stride forward in freelance writing; he learned and saved enough money to buy his first Upwork account to do freelance writing jobs. This account cost him 150 dollars.
Despite initially having success with his Upwork account, Moses Murithi was scammed and lost access to his account. His limited knowledge of how to change account credentials made it easy for the scammer to take advantage of him. However, Murithi refused to give up and instead chose to learn from more experienced writers, who helped him gain new skills and knowledge about owning writing accounts.
Entrepreneurial Breakthrough
He worked hard, saved money, and eventually purchased a new and better account for Ksh.100,000. This marked a turning point for him, as he was able to earn a minimum of Ksh.40,000 per month and eventually owned three accounts with five writers working under him. Despite his success, he faced challenges in maintaining his commitment to his work and studies, which often meant sacrificing time with friends to focus on his goals.
Transition to Real Estate
Murithi set himself apart from his classmates by creating employment for himself, instead of worrying about finding a job after school. He saved up enough money to purchase a piece of land, with his sights set on a location along Kangundo Road. However, the agent showed him a piece of land that was 11 kilometers away from the main road. Murithi saw this as a unique opportunity to sell pieces of land close to the road, as no other agency was offering that. That is how he founded Fanaka Real Estate Limited. Before starting the company, Murithi carefully researched various products, industries, and markets. He decided to focus on one area, to gain as much knowledge and expertise as possible. By doing so, he could learn different techniques and understand the system better.
Now three years down the line, the company has already employed twenty employees and successfully handed over many of its projects to its clients. In 2019 only, the company had six projects on 50 acres of land along Kangundo Road. Muriithi stresses that his continuous success is due to doing research, honesty, consistency, and not going out of his means. Also, having an office within the grounds of the projects, having land in prime areas, and following all the necessary procedures in acquiring the land has won the hearts of many of his clients.
Challenges Faced
While celebrating achievements, Murithi acknowledges the challenges in acquiring land amidst a market filled with cartels and conmen. To overcome this, Fanaka conducts in-depth research to ascertain the legitimate ownership of any land before purchase.
Closing Thoughts
Moses Murithi’s journey from a broke university student to the founder of a thriving real estate company serves as an inspiring reminder that success can arise from humble beginnings. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs not to fear starting with little or nothing, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, persistence, and the gradual growth of vision for long-term success. Every big company, including giants like Coca-Cola and KFC, began as small dreams — a testament to the power of continuous marketing, persistence, and consistency. So, don’t be deterred by naysayers; start where you are and let your vision guide you toward success.