This archive report was first published on 9 August 2019.
On a sunny day in Nairobi, Owily Madoro's entrepreneurial spirit is making waves in the local fish trade. With a humble beginning of Sh30,000, he has established Mr Fish, a company that supplies omena and other types of fish to customers in Nairobi and other counties, including a loyal following in Germany.
Published on August 9, 2019, Madoro's story is a testament to the power of innovation and hard work. Before venturing into his fish business, he was employed in a local brewery, but his contract ended two years ago, leaving him with a challenge to find a new source of income.
With a clear vision, Madoro decided to sell omena online, leveraging the fear of contamination that often deters people from buying fish from stalls, markets, or the roadside. His decision has paid off, with Mr Fish now supplying omena to as far as Moyale, Mombasa, Meru, Machakos, and other towns in the country.
‘I decided to sell omena online when I realised that most people don’t like buying them from stalls, markets or the roadside for fear of contamination,’ Madoro said in an interview.
His products, which include smoked tilapia, obambo, kamongo, fulu, and mumi, are sourced from Homa Bay every weekend. Madoro's secret to success lies in decent packaging and presentation, which has won the hearts of his customers. On a good day, he makes more than 20 deliveries in Nairobi alone.
Two kilogrammes of deep-fried omena retail for Sh400, while the sun-dried ones retail for Sh300. Other types of fish retail between Sh200 and Sh300. His clients make orders online through his social media handle, Mr Fish.
