Co-op Archives

The thriftiest business: Making millions na luku kali kali

Posted on June 28, 2022June 29, 2022 by Ozymandias

It goes without saying that Nairobians love to look good. That is why songs are sung about how fresh one’s drip is. It’s also why people like Nairobi West Nicur have been making a killing off threads. And you can jump right in and use his gameplan to make mad money.

Previously, we had spoken about his example; he has found a way to leverage his huge social media audience to sell his clothes but how do yu grow to his level? That’s what we are looking at today and looking to demystify that.

Well, apart from having to grow your social media audience, you also can find a way to get clothes from China and other markets. A simple way of doing this would actually be for you to move your focus to Gikosh. Why Gikomba you ask? Because 2nd hand clothes or Thrifting as the cool kids call it has never been as popular as it currently is.

And there is an opportunity to brand yourself as the go to “thrift stylist”. We all know that Gikomba always has more than enough gems right? Well, one way of taking advantage of this would be for you to get to know a broker. Networking is the uptown way to describe what I am referring to. Let’s face it, most of us would not have the time or drive to get to Gikosh at 5 AM as the bales land so why not get acquainted with a broker who can get you the best of what has landed?

From there, you can actually use IG as an online stall. Sort out the best shoes, the best jeans and shirts and then you post them on your page and grow your clientele from there. But what if you get to the point where you need a brick-and-mortar shop? When you decide that you need to expand to having a physical shop, there is a partner you can work with: I am talking about Mco-op Cash.

WHAT IS MCO-OP CASH AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

MCo-op Cash is a mobile banking service which enables you to access a variety of banking, money transfer and payment services.

All you need is an ID card and a registered mobile phone number; it doesn’t matter which mobile phone network you are on. You may register for the service by dialing *667# on your mobile phone or download the app from the Play Store or App Store. Follow the menu and receive an SMS confirming registration.

For pin registration, you can also reach out to us by calling 0703 027 000, 020 277 6000

How lack of school fees changed King Kaka’s life

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Ozymandias

King Kaka is a testament of the truth that motivation comes from different variables in life. Sometimes, actually, a lot of times, it comes from poverty. When you lack money, you lack ven basic esteem and respect.

6 of the most expensive schools in Kenya

Growing up, the rapper didn’t have a lot. Infact, when he tells his own story, he paints the picture of just how acutely aware children usually are of the lack their family deals with.

And King Kaka knew he wanted to change things. While most people who grew up around him would turn to crime, he decided on a better, albeit tougher strategy.

Schools have re-opened and all eyes are on Trio Mio. Here’s why!

King Kaka who was formerly known as Rabbit decided to focus on his books. And he hit them so hard, that he managed to earn himself a scholarship.

And the result of that hard work? He managed to pay for his own education. What do I mean? He got a full scholarship… At a public high school. Let that sink in. Talk about being a young high achiever.

Kenyan celebs who attended the most expensive schools in Kenya

But in truth, you shouldn’t want to have your child struggle to pay their own way through school. Unlike King Kaka’s situation, you should free up your child from all the anxiety that comes from knowing they cannot afford school fees by planning ahead.

Partner with Co-op Bank to help your child become the best version of themselves. Why? Because school fees are all about planning. You should not wake up to realize that fees is due tomorrow and you had not planned for this eventuality even though you’ve lived large for some long holiday weekend. You need a partner who can help you map out the entire financial plan and ensure you get the best possible option for your child(ren).

With the Co-op Bank innovations and partnerships, you can pay school fees and buy new uniforms without having to bear the risk of carrying huge sums of money around. I mean, it would really be a comedy of tragedies if you misplaced that money or it was liberated from you right?

In addition to this, you can also load up your child’s pocket money to their Co-op Bank Pre-paid.

What are the benefits of a Co-op Bank Prepaid card?

No need for your child to carry loads of pocket money as they head to school, you can simply load it in the Co-op Prepaid card which is safer than carrying cash.
The student will be able to pay for items at their school canteens at No Extra cost.
Parents will be able to track their students sending by getting a Mini statement of the card at a Co-op Kwa Jirani agent or via SMS alerts.
You no longer need to travel all the way to the school to hand over money to your child, you can simply load the card at any Co-op Kwa Jirani agent.
The students are also able to withdraw money using the card from any Co-op ATMs or Co-op Kwa Jirani agents outside school.
You dont need an account with Co-op bank to enjoy the benefits of the card.
No extra charges will be incurred in transactions using the card.

Click here to find out more.

6 of the most expensive schools in Kenya

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Ozymandias

Education is the foundation every child needs to make something out of their lives. At school, children not only learn academic subjects but also how to interact with their peers.

Kenyan celebs who attended the most expensive schools in Kenya

Schools allow children to learn how to integrate in society and what is normal and what isn’t among their peers. They also learn intrinsic skills and facts about themselves and their personalities.

But just like with everything in life, there are different buy-in levels to education. Some can only afford the free option offered at government schools while others go for a literal gold-standard of education.

Size 8: A powerful success story against all odds

And some schools are truly expensive. Some schools charge enough school fees for you to build a home after just two years of your child being in attendance. Let’s check out which Kenyan schools are the most expensive.

1. International School of Kenya (ISK)

The school has almost 1000 students from over 60. The institution is a non-profit centre that started as a joint partnership between the Canadian and United States governments. ISK offers the North American accredited diploma curriculum. New students pay an admission fee of $400 and a one-time capital levy of $10,00, which caters for capital expenses. The tuition fee ranges between $16,974 for kindergarten kids and $32,543 for Grades 11 and 12.

2. Greensteds International School

Greensteds is a co-educational day and boarding school offering the British curriculum from early years’ students to A level. The school is in Nakuru County, 16km from Nakuru town, and a few minutes from Nakuru National Park. Students joining the playgroup level will pay a fee of KShs 49,500.
In the first and second year, students pay a whopping KShs 131,000, while boarders who join at the same level pay KShs 401,500.
Grade 12 and 13 boarding students pay KShs 848,000 per term. The boarding fee is inclusive of accommodation, meals and tuition.

3. St Andrew’s Turi

This school is in Turi, a hidden spot between Nakuru and Kericho. St. Andrews Turi is famous for its high-quality education and firm Christian values. The institution’s core values are compassion, integrity and courage. Nursery school children pay KShs 171,000 per term, while Grade one and two boarding students pay KShs 650,000. In addition, students pay a 50% deposit of term one’s boarding fees, which is refundable upon leaving. The school also offers a 5% discount on basic costs for second and subsequent children.

4. Brookhouse School

Brookhouseis found in Karengata, Nairobi and started in 1981. It is an independent British curriculum co-educational day and boarding school that provides early years, preparatory and secondary schooling. It is one of the best IGCSE schools in Kenya and has two campuses in Kenya; Runda and Karen.
Brookhouse students pay an admission fee of approximately KShs 45,000. In addition, the tuition fee is around KShs 860,000 per term.

5. Peponi School

Peponi School is another leading institution in Kenya. It is founded on Christian principles and started in 1989 as a first-class co-educational boarding school based on the British Independent School system. For admission at Peponi, full boarders pay KShs 1,115,180 while weekly borders pay 1,053,175. Day students pay KShs 731,510. There are extra charges for activities like music and any exams related to the same. Parents also pay a refundable caution deposit upon admission.

6. Hillcrest International School

Hillcrest International School is in the suburbs of Karen, Nairobi. The school was established in 1965 as a pre-school and gained international status in 1972. It is a British Curriculum School with three sections:
Hillcrest Early Years
Hillcrest Preparatory School
Hillcrest Secondary School
For admission to the preparatory school, parents pay a tuition fee of KShs 645,900 while the early years students spend an estimated KShs 330,450. There are also transport charges and a caution deposit fee upon admission.

And when it comes to school fees, do you know a partner that can help you pay is Co-op Bank. Why? Because school fees are all about planning. You should not wake up to realize that fees is due tomorrow and you had not planned for this eventuality even though you’ve lived large for some long holiday weekend. You need a partner who can help you map out the entire financial plan and ensure you get the best possible option for your child(ren).

In addition to this, you can also load up your child’s pocket money to their Co-op Bank Pre-paid.

What are the benefits of a Co-op Bank Prepaid card?

No need for your child to carry loads of pocket money as they head to school, you can simply load it in the Co-op Prepaid card which is safer than carrying cash.
The student will be able to pay for items at their school canteens at No Extra cost.
Parents will be able to track their students sending by getting a Mini statement of the card at a Co-op Kwa Jirani agent or via SMS alerts.
You no longer need to travel all the way to the school to hand over money to your child, you can simply load the card at any Co-op Kwa Jirani agent.
The students are also able to withdraw money using the card from any Co-op ATMs or Co-op Kwa Jirani agents outside school.
You dont need an account with Co-op bank to enjoy the benefits of the card.
No extra charges will be incurred in transactions using the card.

Click here to find out more.

Don’t get caught unprepared for the new school term

Posted on May 6, 2022May 10, 2022 by Ozymandias

Schools are finally opening and for most people, that means traffic has increased as well as the added stress of having to raise school fees and buying school stationery and uniform.

The thing about school fees is that though it can indeed e a hustle, you have to learn how to alleviate the pain of both preparing yourself or it and actually paying up. And I know it can be tough if your son has taken after his father… Pulling the tail after every exam.

Co-op Bank has however come up with several solutions that can help facilitate you paying fees.

Below are effective online solutions from Co-op bank that are effective and convenient for parents to ensure that they access and remit school fees for their children.

M-Pesa PayBill

To pay your child’s school fees conveniently via M-Pesa PayBill:

Go to Lipa na M-Pesa (PayBill)
Enter Business Code 400222
Enter Account Number as the School Code, next press # followed by the student number, for example, 1469#10023478989 (NB: Click here to confirm your school’s coordinates)
Enter amount
Enter your M-Pesa PIN
Confirm transaction

Receive SMS confirming a successful transaction.

MCo-opCash

While paying for school fees via MCo-opCash:

Log into your MCo-opCash App
Select Other Payments
Select School Fees
Enter your school business number or school code/; click here to confirm your school’s coordinates
Enter the account to transact from
Enter the student number
Confirm your transaction

Receive SMS notification confirming the transaction is complete.

Co-op Internet Banking

If you have registered for Co-op internet banking, you

Log in to Co-op Internet Banking
Select ‘Bank Transfer’
Enter the school’s account and student details
Confirm the transfer
Confirm transaction and print out the receipt

PesaLink

If you’re paying school fees from your Co-op Bank account to a different bank account, you can link your bank account to access the following PesaLink services:

Co-op Kwa Jirani Agents
Co-op Bank ATMs
Co-op Bank Mobile Banking (MCo-opCash)
Different Co-op Bank branches

To gain access to PesaLink services, here is a quick guide:

– Launch the MCo-opCash App or dial *667# to access MCo-opCash from your phone

– Select PesaLink

– Link your mobile number to your Co-op Bank account

PesaLink is a free service with zero charges when linking your bank accounts.

Co-op Kwa Jirani

If you don’t have a Co-op Bank account, you can deposit your child’s school fees directly to the school account at the nearby Co-op Kwa Jirani agent. You no longer have to send your children to school with liquid cash. So be on the safe side.

Co-op Kwa Jirani services are available at your nearest local market or town.

Co-op Student’s Card

Long gone are the days of broken boxes and stolen pocket money. Your child does not need liquid cash while in school. We all know how it goes in schools; things can get nasty.

With Co-op Student’s Card, your child is issued a pre-paid Visa card that can mean a lifeline while in session. Your child can purchase goods from the school canteen via a Process Data Quickly (PDQ) machine.

In addition, you can cap a monthly or weekly limit to a specific figure as per your budget. If your child needs access to liquid cash during school breaks, they can withdraw funds from any co-operative Bank ATM or a nearby Co-op Agent.

To access a Co-op Student’s Card, visit any Co-op Bank branch with the following documents for processing:

Student’s school ID
Student’s Birth Certificate
Parents ID
Parents KRA Pin

Parents can top up their children’s Co-op Visa Cards via Co-op Kwa Jirani, Mpesa PayBill or direct transfer from their accounts.

Why risk sending your child to school with loads of cash for shopping? Students can use the Co-op Student Card to pay for their shopping as they head to school. Either way, you can pay for their shopping using your Co-op Visa Credit or Debit Card at zero cost.

School fees payment has never been much more straightforward. Are you still stuck up in the analogue era?

Kenyan celebs who attended the most expensive schools in Kenya

Posted on May 5, 2022May 5, 2022 by Ozymandias

Kenya has some very expensive and exclusive schools that have attracted the children of the who-is-who. The type of schools where school fees for one semester is worth more than a lot of Kenyan households earn in a year.

And the crazy thing you wouldn’t believe is that some Kenyan celebs actually studied at such schools. Yup, they attended schools where their parents had to pay north of half a million shillings per semester.

Let’s dive right into Kenyan celebs who attended Kenya’s most expensive schools:

#1. Nick Mutuma

The actor attended Braeside for his high school education. The school is a part of the Braeburn Group of Schools. The school fees per term of Braeburn International school is Ksh. 782,310 per term.

#2. Joey Muthengi

She attended Rift Valley Academy which is one of the most exclusive schools in the entire East African region. Interestingly enough, her brother, Holy Dave attended Machakos Boys… I laughed so hard when a good friend of mine revealed this fact. Talk about disparity.

#3. Anne Kiguta

She attended Rusinga School. Interestingly, she was classmates with yet another well known and celebrated Kenyan who also became a media personality; Waihiga Mwaura.

#4. Size 8

The gospel singer turned evangelist attended State House Girls before transferring to Hillcrest. She attended the school on a scholarship.

#5. Edith Kimani

Like Size 8, Edith Kimani started her high school education at State House Girls before transferring to Hillcrest on a scholarship.

#7. Michelle Morgan

She attended Hillcrest where the lowest amount of school fees a student would pay (or rather, have their parents cough up) is 567,000 per semester.

#8. Fena Gitu

The singing sensation too attended Hillcrest school. It’s almost like they were vying in an unknown contest to create the most Kenyan celebs.

#8. Almasi (Ian Nene)

The Machachari actor attended school at Brookhouse. This school whose main building looks like a castle is one of the most expensive schools in Kenya. Parents of a Grade 5 student have to pay 2.07 million Kshs per annum.

#9. Janet Mbugua

She too attended school at Brookhouse. And just to give you how bonkers the fees can become, Grade 12 parents pay a minimum of 2.37 million shillings a year as fees.

With the Co-op Bank innovations and partnerships, you can pay school fees and buy new uniform without having to bear the risk of carrying huge sums of money around. I mean, it would really be a comedy of tragedies if you misplaced that money or it was liberated from you right?

In addition to this, you can also load up your child’s pocket money to their Co-op Bank Pre-paid.

What are the benefits of a Co-op Bank Prepaid card?

No need for your child to carry loads of pocket money as they head to school, you can simply load it in the Co-op Prepaid card which is safer than carrying cash.
The student will be able to pay for items at their school canteens at No Extra cost.
Parents will be able to track their students sending by getting a Mini statement of the card at a Co-op Kwa Jirani agent or via SMS alerts.
You no longer need to travel all the way to the school to hand over money to your child, you can simply load the card at any Co-op Kwa Jirani agent.
The students are also able to withdraw money using the card from any Co-op ATMs or Co-op Kwa Jirani agents outside school.
You dont need an account with Co-op bank to enjoy the benefits of the card.
No extra charges will be incurred in transactions using the card.

Click here to find out more.

Njugush looking to become the next East African fashion mogul

Posted on March 2, 2022March 2, 2022 by Ozymandias

Njugush and his wife Celestine Ndinda have announced that they have set up their own clothing brand called Be Knit. It was launched back in 2021 and their family features heavily in every aspect of the brand, from designing the clothes to marketing the brand.

The Betty Kyallo blueprint to making money

It is actually really cute to see them also incorporate their wee baby into the mix. But aside from that, this is actually big business as he is looking to cash in on his celebrity status but there are several things I would wish to see him do to secure his bag beyond this period in time when his star is at its zenith.

You see, Njuguna needs to understand that there are two main business strategies he can use to permeate the Kenyan market and all have different risks and rewards but ultimately his goals will determine which path he takes.

Khaligraph’s secret source of multi-millions

He could potentially stick to keeping his products (which by the way are awesome) on an online store where people will have to order for themselves and he handles the delivery once the transaction is reflected on his end.

This would mean that he would have to create an online store (really a website) that he and his wife directly handle and respond to clients’ orders directly. This strategy minimizes his overheads significantly as he can run the business from the comfort of his home. So Njugush could also continue to churn out content even as he sells his clothing line.

Wahu making millions from your luscious locks

That would also mean that he has to handle the online marketing of the brand and engage with clients’ responses as well as seek to convert on the fence online shoppers into actual clients by living where the conversation is at.

Or he could go the more traditional route and partner with a supermarket or retailer. What this allows him to do is to sell directly to customers while they are doing their monthly or weekly grocery shopping or by marketing the brand to window shoppers.

The only thing with this approach is that Njugush and his wife would have to partner with the retail giants and they would definitely want a cut of the profits. As a result, the cost of the products would increase.

While these are the two conventional methods of selling clothing brands, he could also opt for an amalgamation of the two. Depending on his negotiating skills, he could have his clothing brand, Be Knit carried by all leading retail stores aswell as sell them directly to the clients. But with such deals, the devil is in the detail and his power to make such deals is entirely dependent on whether or not he has a silver tongue.

But that is a very good problem to have. And hopefully, he can grow his business to the point he diversifies the clothes he has on offer from sweaters to cardigans and much, much more. And if you, like Njugush are a business that is looking to establish itself online then one of the headaches you will face is payment processing of online transactions.

And Co-op Bank is here for you with a solution. You can now transact your business through Chapa Pay, an online card payment service. So whether you need to pay your vendors and suppliers of process payments from clients, this is your golden ticket.

Merchants who have built web checkout & mobile applications (APPs) and would like to enrich their applications with online card payment acceptance can now be able to do so with Chapa Pay eCommerce Solution

How you stand to benefit:

• Simplicity: The integrations models are easy and quick to implement

• Reliability: The solution once integrated to a merchant site is available 24/7

• Safety: Chapa Pay eCommerce platform is payment card industry – data security standard (PCI-DSS) compliant ensuring safety and security of customer card details

• Best customer experience and practice: Dedicated relationship management backed by 24/7 operations support.

• Most of all, create convenience to customers: overcome geographical limitations

Khaligraph’s secret source of multi-millions

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Ozymandias

When a lot of people think about Khaligraph, they see the OG as a rapper whom very few others want to mess with whether lyrically or otherwise. He is not only talented but a behemoth of a man, being both tall and muscle-bound.

Bora Pesa- Khaligraph Jones Shares His Point Of View On Curtain-Raising For International Artists

He burst onto the scene in a similar fashion to the way 50 Cent did, beefing with other established rappers. His target of choice, however, was singularly just Octopizzo. And my word, he let the man feel his lyrical wrath. And while Octopizzo too is a competent rapper, he was not interested in engaging in beef with Khaligraph, viewing him as small fry.

The OG however, used the little buzz he got from Octo and continued to release hit after hit and he eventually cemented himself within the collective Kenyan psyche for being not just a great lyricist but also a certified hit rapper. Nearly every song he released was a banger, a trend that continues to date.

Mulamwah’s Millions

He set up a studio to ensure he had full control over his creative process and it is called Blue Ink. But this is not about that venture as many people know about it, it is about the venture that grew from his other passion, he has a vehicle restoration garage, Omollo Customz.

It has a carwash and bodywork shop including but not limited to panel beating and paintwork (yup, even candy coating). Besides him always having a passion for vehicles, I am guessing the carwash was motivated by the fact that he once had a carwash attendant crash his still newly acquired Subaru. This was back in 2015. He probably vowed never to have to be in the same situation ever again.

How Crazy Kennar is banking on celebrity status

It is actually a very brilliant thing to do, turning your passion into a business. And, if you, like Khaligraph Jones are looking to expand your business, beyond the current location, you can partner with Co-op Bank and work out a solution with their credit service team:

That’s right, Co-op Bank is offering a credit service called the Business Plus Loan which is tailored to help you achieve your target of growing your business beyond what it currently sits at. If you have a Co-op Bank account, all you have to do is get on the MCo-opCash App and follow the instructions to find out whether you’re eligible for the Business Plan Loan.

Click this link to find out more about how you can grow your business.