From a single shop to an empire! Samchi group CEO Esther Muchemi opens up about her journey to the top
Esther Muchemi is one of the most successful businesswomen in Kenya. Her journey to the top started some 18 years ago when she founded Samchi Telecom to sell airtime as the mobile revolution was just about to sweep the country in 2000.
Samchi Telecom was first honoured as the top M-Pesa agent by Safaricom in 2009. The company has severally been ranked as top airtime dealer for Safaricom in subsequent years.
It’s also important to note that Samchi was the pioneer M-Pesa dealer when the mobile money was invented. M-Pesa was piloted at Samchi for six months before it was rolled out. Esther Muchemi was the first to transact with M-Pesa in Kenya holding the till number 0001.
The story behind Esther’s success
Esther Muchemi’s efforts to set up one of Kenya’s most successful businesses has seen her nominated and won several business awards across the continent as well as across the globe.
Muchemi talks about her journey to the top in her newly launched book “Give Me My Mountain”. The book was officially launched on Friday December 31st 2018.
The book launch, which was held at Serena Hotel, was graced by industrialist Manu Chandaria, CS Public affairs, Youth and Gender Prof Margret Kobia, CEO Bob Collymore, KCB CEO Joshua Oigara, Rafiki Bank MD Ken Obimbo, Nairobi Women Rep Esther Passaris, Nyeri Deputy Governor Carol Karugu among other high profile guests.
Celebrities such as DJ Mo, Jimmy Gait were also in attendance.
“Give me my Mountain” details Esther Muchemi’s entrepreneurial journey to success, being one of the most successful business leaders in Africa.
“The title of this book “Give Me My Mountain” is unique, so unique that a current random search on google will lead you to two places: The online link to this particular book the other being the refence in the bible where this statement was made. The two are closely related. I chose this name based on a request that was made by a man in the bible named Caleb who after being involved in several battles for his nation Israel, specifically asked to be given a mountain earlier promised to him. Looking back at my life, it has honestly been about identifying mountains, asking for them, fighting for them, and once victory was attained, reigning on them. I believe that has been the trajectory for many of us here just that it may be told differently,” said Esther Muchemi during the book launch.
