Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

I have a business idea aimed at availing fuel in my community by setting up a number of filling stations to solve the scarcity of the commodity. Across this region there is not even one filling station which makes it hard for bodaboda riders to do work.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

When I was young their were not much means of transport in my community, people used bicycles for transportation of goods and people, that is early 2000s. In the year 2008 the first Motorcycle landed in my community, ever so many people have bought motorbikes. It's now the main means of transport, ferrying goods to the market, people among other things. Now the challenge with these motorbikes is the fuel, across this region there are no filling stations, at first there were people selling fuel in bottles but it was banned due to risk of flammability, motorbikes go a long way to the main centre to get fuel. I intend to solve this problem by opening a series of filling stations across this region so as to make fuel available. This filling stations will operate 24/7 so as to also cater for emergencies. They will also be flexible to adapt to the changing world in terms of providing a Charging station for the electric bikes. One at a time, with your help I can set up this filling stations.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Across this region there are no filling stations the nearest filling station is ni Endebess Centre and along Kitale- Suam road, these other centres towards Mount Elgon have no filling station. Lack of fuel near these communities has costed people life's, produce not reaching the market and also farm inputs to the farm. Many have gotten to the wrong hand of the law by illegally selling fuel in small bottles. By opening a filling station in each centre every Shopping Centre I will have solved the problem of availability of fuel for these motorbikes cars and tractors working in the farms.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

My projects intends to bring fuel near people which which will ease the riders the burden of looking for it far away, this will improve their service to the community at any time of the day. In terms of ferrying patients to the hospital especially during emergency, farm produce to the market and also farm inputs to the market. I will also have saved people from getting in the wrong side of the law looking for this crucial commodity. Fuel is an important thing in operation of any machine using fuel. Production in the farms also depends on fuel to start the engines .

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

My project aims at serving my community by bringing fuel near them. With fuel they have power to accomplish whatever they plan to accomplish. For approximately ten years they have struggled to accomplish their dreams by spending a long time looking for fuel.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-01-03

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

My father runs a small shop at a local centre selling basic commodities like sugar, tea leaves, salt among others. He has been doing it for a long time which makes him the correct person to consult when it come to sustainability of a business, he has beaten all the odds to grow his business to where it is now. On the other hand my mother my mother buys tomatoes in the farms and sells them in Kitale town. It's a good business which has drawn her income that meets some of our needs.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

By availing fuel near people, Transportation of good and people to towns become easy as well, which enhances business in my community, a business oriented community is able to meet it's it's day to day needs hence reducing the poverty levels. Transportation of farm inputs to the farm will also be easy with the availability of fuel which will increase production of farm produce enough to sustain the community as well as selling others for money.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Right now it's hard to acquire farm produce especially at the far end remote villages, which causes them not using fertilizer and other important inputs in their farms. By availing fuel farm inputs will reach those areas and and Agriculture will flourish hence achieving zero hunger. At the same time businesses do not flourish due to delays in delivery of stock, through my project they will access fuel easily and restock their shops which then reduces hunger.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

The main means of transport in my community is the use of motorbikes, they are also used to ferry patients to the hospital for treatment. In time of emergencies this motorbikes need a place to quickly refuel and respond to the emergency. At night, for example, when someone gets sick or expectant mother need to deliver they face a hard task refueling. By availing the fuel near it will make their work easier as well as saving lives of people in need of quick transportation.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

I believe in an educated community to respond to day to day life challenges. Their are many Children who walk a long way to access quality education at the same time there are motorcycles in those areas lacking fuel to operate. With the availability of fuel these children can easily be taken to school and quench their thirst for education.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

During dry months of January, February and March motorbikes do door to door delivery of water which sustains the commu

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

3

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

6

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

3

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

5

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

4

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

4

05.08 Justification

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

My main competitor are people secretly selling fuel in bottles. This method is not safe as fuel can easily catch fire. My project provides available safe energy for people to use which makes me stand out. Furthermore I intend to provide a full package station which will also be selling engine oil and as well as cooking gas which will safe my customer time looking for them elsewhere.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Most of the people owning small businesses in my community are women while men mostly work in farms. By availing fuel I will have eased the restocking of their businesses hence making more money and with money they are empowered.