 Yes, welcome back to why in the morning. My name is Barry Moses or it's my own social media And this is our first item of the day. So today happens to be entrepreneurship Tuesday And this is that day that we highlight stories of me and Kenyans We're doing amazing stuff for themselves and the community at large But before I introduce my guest of the day We have a question on Facebook and this one is about loans if you have a student loan if you have Loans from the apps or from the banks tell us and why do what do you think about the borrowing culture? What do you think is making Kenyan youth borrow that much? That is what we need from you That is at white five four on Facebook or preferably you can hit us up on white five four underscore channel on Instagram And white five four Channel on Twitter or you can hit me up directly at it's very more so the lady of the day She started out blogging about food now. She has her own cafe talk about growth She goes by the name Hodya chapter chair cream channel. Thank you, buddy. All right. Your car is number four If I missed anything on your intro, I like to give people a chance to introduce themselves all the credentials of everything That you have achieved so far. Okay My name is Hodya. I own the brand Chepchikoni. It started off as a home prepping Brand and then I grew and now grew into a cafe. I'm 25 years old 25 years And My graduates I started become majored sales and marketing Become majored at sales and marketing. That's why you selling food is so easy for you Not a task. Not a task. Yes. All right. So I want to take you back to To when you're studying become All right, what's running in your mind? Do you want to work at a bank at this time? Or do you want to work at an insurance company or do you want to just offer? Financial advice to people. What what was the aim? Hey, to be very honest, I was those confused people in campus Because first of all, I was called to study Library science, but then it was not my kind of thing So I switched to become because I found it neutral and something just simple for me But then I loved the sales and marketing beats, but I wasn't sure You're going to get into business. Yes. Yes. Yes. You know, even my mom used to tell me because I used to sleep a lot I was little so she's tell me here. Mommy. You better have your own thing when you grow up because you can't be employed with this Sleeping pattern. All right. All right. Yeah, so you always knew you were going to end up doing business But you always knew you were not sure. Yeah, and I wasn't sure about what I want to do All right So this whole thing started as a joke as they will just make kick ass meals at home And then your friends keep telling us you get serious with this thing So you get serious with this thing and then one day some guy He's called Eric. He told me hey me. I'm a bachelor. I can't cook. So you come and cook for me then charge me I was like, what is that? How do we do this? Then I went and did it for him and posted it and and it surprised me because it took off. So Eric You owe Eric one. Yeah, I owe him I Have to discover this. So you're just you're always good at cooking. Yes Did you know that's so good, but I I practice the craft and Well, and then Shwada was consistent with the recipes and everything Trying this out giving people to sample and all that so I can't say that I was so good from the start Yeah, but you've improved over time Who do you attribute this to your cooking skills? Is it mom or dad? Hey, my mom. She's good at this as well. She's watching us We're the number one fan She'll even take a photo and put on her social media for like three weeks. Hi, we love you as well. So You started posting these things How was business back then before you got to the cafe level? How was how are you running your business? You were cooking posting online and telling people to to order the food or half Yes, but now Remember at this point when I cooked for Eric, I had a very huge dilemma in my life I've never told anyone this but I was thoroughly applying for jobs outside Kenya Do buy those jobs cut and as it had gotten to a point I was even applying for the house girl jobs So I had this big dilemma was like do I because I had just started the brand after I cooked for Eric So I'm like do I push me the brand or do I just go because the the jobs even outside Some of them had come through so I decided I let me do this. So I started cooking from home and And and now started growing posting recipes. They think that has helped me grow so much is the recipes but actually and Consistency even if I'm not feeling like it. I'll just cook and post and post and that was it And then now I started cooking from home now because it got to a point people want Just lunch cover the lunch for the office So I started cooking from home and delivering and then what made me push myself to now want to open a place It's because the demand was too high Like you get I have already made what I'm delivering and then I have like 30 plus orders 30 plus orders So this an estimate You have more than 30 orders a day. Yes. Yes. Wow How many orders did you have when you were starting? To be honest the first week it was crazy You know, I have a partner in this business. He was like, wow. What is this? How do you even get to this? It was so good, but now you know the month is a bit Sometimes people buy like the first week of the month people buy the dates between 15th to 20 That is really difficult. That is where you feel like calling your employees and telling them. Hey now I've been a lucky knee Joe Please because but you have studied the patterns and you can tell Kenyans Kenyans have a spending pattern Totally. All right. So, you know the what to cook at this times of the month. Yes Yes, but now at first I didn't really know but for now I know and and of course There are plans that I had when I was starting and I came to realize they are a little bit I can't go with them like initially I used to think something like biryani I can do it on maybe Friday and Saturday and Sunday, but Weirdly, it's the most purchased meal. So it's now like our daily the way you have to make like beefs to every day There's no biryani. We talk to ourselves So there's no business when there's no biryani. Yeah, are we looking at seeing and Matumbo? I was surprised the first day. I was skeptical. I think I made like three kgs By 12 I didn't have any Matumbo and now 12 is when the orders kick in All right. So sometimes do you ask yourself? Why do people tend to love this more than they love this? Yes And I came to realize People love things people love eating out things that they are afraid to prepare at home Like Matumbo people are like Kaha Rufu, Kana Tokanga, Ajay, Marauna Chensha for loans, Juni Ni Ni Ni Those things that people are scared of preparing at home is what they mostly eat out So like biryani because I can't imagine. What is the recipe of for biryani? People think it's it takes 24 hours to first So some of these things that people are scared of make it at home and they order the most Yes, and this has taken me over time research that you've done over time. Yes and learning Learning on the job. Yeah, I like so as you moved Shortly people are making orders you're cooking from home people are making orders and whatnot What was the initial investment If you willing to share the first day We're all cooking from home. Yes. Oh my god, you will laugh at me I like us to laugh together my mentor Sent me I think 13,000 shillings. I bought Mekko the small one and Big Sufria's three of them and disposable containers and now the ingredients the whole spices they all that it It cost me around there 13 and that was it. Yeah, that was it. Yes. All right fast forward You've set up your own cafe. It's in Roy Sambu, but if in the Areas that Roy Sambu you should visit It's in Roy Sambu and Not so many I've seen so many food bloggers But not so many of them take the next step to set up an establishment of their own because it because it's very Not even risky alone I've come to from my experience what most people are afraid of is the criticism and I would not lie to you The criticism is too much and that is one thing that really Makes me sad about us as a country or rather people Because you realize that when big brands that I don't want to mention big big Establishments food establishments when they have say small mistakes in their eating places It's not taken deeply but small people you're trying to rise and because people know you're out there on social media One small mistake they're out You know over the acting transition your name waiting for that mistake people are constantly looking for a mistake Yes, and that is why food bloggers are like, let me just make my food at home Eat it take photos share the recipes and that's it because you can't really handle that Tarnishing of your name and that is now when people Technically people don't know you until you start to rise and that is when they want to Bring all the data about you and say something to destroy you and everything of course and the first week It scared me and at some point. I was like I want to quit this but right now. I'm like Like 90% of the feedback is good 10% is the bad I'll deal with a 10% The 10% Well some clients are nice like if they find a problem they take a photo send it to your own privately I tell you I didn't like this, but I know your potential I know you can do better and I know this was a mistake and you're like, yeah, I'm sorry Can I replace that dish? But now there are those who will go out there now start you and now start making At the something like say making a statement like we took our grounds me different So this is something you've experienced. Yes. All right. How do you handle the customers that tell you In private that I didn't like this about the food. So maybe you can correct this and I believe in you How do you handle them? Do you give them discounts next time? I can give them a discount mostly I replace the dish You've replaced it and send it all the way to them as they are homes and apologies And then now deal with the issue if it was me I correct if it was my stuff I also talk to them. All right, and this is one aspect that you appreciate so much the customers that communicate Yes, they're the ones that make you the best. They see something that probably you don't see All right. Yeah, so what is the communication like how have you built this network? Because I'm pretty sure you have a number of customers that order from you from time to time We have records of them or something. Yes. Yes Like there's a customer who will you know what what I request my clients to do is send me your order and your location It's easier to deal with text because it's easy to forward to the rider and put the location on Google Maps So you see there's a client you've talked to many times. So you save their number in the location You don't have now to keep asking every time. Yeah, and then there are those now who are frequent Maybe you can send them the menu for the day every day. All right How are you incorporating technology in your business since we living in this is your Facebook and Instagram and and The latex is you too. I mean in Maramonja things have been made easier, especially when it comes to communication How are you incorporating technology? First of all I use Instagram so much for my business because Instagram is easy It's more of the photo and photos are what capture your heart, you know even for you to like someone you first Don't like your photos by the way Most of the time when I'm seeing them I'm hungry and they make me more hungry and I've become really frustrated You should talk to me now, you're my friend I'll talk to you guys, I'll talk to you guys, but the photos really sell you Yeah, the photos have sold me. In fact, I didn't you know the way I noticed when you don't look at something is when it Happens like getting a huge following and everything means to just post and share recipes post and share recipes I realize those too much growth. I've never been sponsored my page So yeah Social media has helped me so much because I'm able to show the clients what we have and then they're able now to To respond with what they want and I like my clients because If you come early, you are too much. They start calling and texting like they know the procedure So they give me the orders. I note them down and now Call the rider. Riders have also made life much easier. I actually love duty guys Business is easier. Yeah, yeah, you will work with a lot of new the guys But at the time you get like to and find their workable with their first they are neat and you know, they have to look Yes So yeah, you pin them the locations starting with the closest You see if you're coming from Thicke Road, he has to start with the USA You order move to Garden City move to Parklands, Westlands that way. All right, which leads you my next question The furthest delivery you've made so far Shio Kimau Shio Kimau from I was skeptical, you know, I was trying to tell this It's far. I think it will be a little bit costly for you Rather than add you one extra meal so you don't feel the the cost. I should like no, I'm your fan I don't care how much I'll pay. I want to get that food And this is some fun. Yes. Wow Amazing. So Shio Kimau represented as well. Yeah, you can deliver anywhere in Nairobi. Yeah, yeah How about the temperatures? How do you handle the temperatures of the food when it's going far? I just ensure that when it's The way the rider is there doing a talk aqua moto packed and And then what I ensure like I give different riders different routes like the rider who does Thicke Road Will do Parklands and Westlands then there's a one who will do Kilimani Lovington all that area so it's faster in that within 30 minutes They have their food and then they don't know we'll do Mombasa Road Yeah, you can't send someone to Westlands then Kilimani then town then out of all these Experience you now a very good chef. You can cook pretty well you're a very good manager you're a very good salesperson and Not to mention you've studied the map of Nairobi and you understand it so well. Yeah, you can coordinate Transfer, I like all right. So what is the future of chapter calling? How do you why do you see it because it started from a blog to a cafe now in a resemble by the way? If you're somewhere in resemble, which is going to be given us the exact address But why do you see it now? What is a vision for it? First of all, I See Chepchikoni having its own recipes like something I've come up with from scratch And then of course I'm going I want to come up with our own spice And then after our own spice I want I would want Chepchikoni and to grow and have branches And one thing that if you have really observed my post I want to ensure to maintain is the African theme for the From everything from the utensils to the furniture to the everything Yes, exactly. Yeah Yes, that is what I'm working towards and even introduce African completely African dishes like mutsik, you know mutsik Yes, I'll taste it mutsik. It's really good. It's really good, especially with Oogali Supplied you see We can get mutsik. Yes All right, so incorporating traditional Kenyan foods and African foods is is an angle Incorporating the African theme in your interior design and the outfits and the packaging is also another angle So it's African African African. Yes. Yes. All right. So there's no pasta at Chepchikoni We are not eating pasta there or any foreign food Okay, you would get but not so much like The reason why even if you look at my post at my recipes I'm really focusing on African foods because some things don't make sense. It's like having money your kids Have not gone to school, but you're sending that money elsewhere Maybe to help other people or rather to spoil someone else same case with food We cannot be running to foreign foods when we have a problem in here Already people have a problem even preparing something simple like Oogali, maybe you think it's simple There's someone who can't prepare. Yes. So let's deal with the situation first hand and Nutrition is directly linked to our health exactly and the African foods have proven to be very healthy very healthy All right. Let's take a look at your Instagram So we can pick one or two So hold up hold up hold up hold up hold up. Let's go to the bio first. So Chepchikoni is the handle 44.4 thousand followers so far and this is grown over time. Yes, how long has it taken you to get to this? this Number of follow exactly two years exactly two years. Yes 44. Okay. That is that is powerful especially in a country of haters like Restaurant owner located along the Moomba Drive next to Jack What gas in Roy Sambu area that is the direction? Yes, all right The directions are on the Instagram the phone numbers are also on the Instagram Chepchikoni is the Instagram the tail number is there as well and I see a YouTube link. Yes. What is on your YouTube channel? Recipe videos recipe videos. Yes, of Yes, all right who does media for you? They're shooting and all that my boyfriend. All right It's a family business. He's very and he's a kicker scoop sometimes he cooks nice. I'm a boy All right To what is going to come out of this family, this is a very promising family. This was my dinner This was yesterday. Yes. I diverted thoroughly. All right, you divide All right. So all I see there is what type of vegetable is this? This is pumpkin leaves and spinach Pumpkin leaves. Yes creamed with coconut milk creamed with coconut milk. Can you see the holy fruit there? I can see the avocado and that one is a perfect one. That one Shule private school. So this was made at home or yeah at home. This was at home All right. Do you think that is nutritious for me for gent a brother like by? Yes, very very very All right, I get some very good oils from the avocado. Yes Very good vitamins right there. Let's call up. What is happening here? Oh, yeah, you see the way People help grow your brand. You also help others grow their brand. This is my friend. She says this beautiful pillows So it's also promoting her a beautiful design right there Yeah, is she going to be the one doing your interior design when time comes? She helped me did she helped me Do the one for my home. She'll of course help me the one when my restaurant grows powerful I like how Kenyan businesses are supporting each other. All right, so you bake as well No, someone sent me these cupcakes. She's got cakes by memo. Yes on Sunday. That was tabbing Wow, I like Indomie, this is Indomie. Yes, and that is also Indomie Wow When they discovered or when they invented Indomie deep they know it can be cooked like this This is something I doubt What what process went into this this one. Yeah, this has egg and onions and capsicums Wow Kua Wale, I would recap. It's called Indo round Come see come is me. Oh, oh, yeah, my toe come see me. Oh, all right, then Wow, so this is fluffy In the round. Yes Yeah, and that is my own domain my own domain. Yes, what is the name come from? It has my own nest and ketchup sauce and then it it it has good meat Good meat as well. Yes. Wow. I never imagined I could put some meat in my Indomie But that is you I estimate your Don't underestimate your Indomie. Yes. All right. What is happening down here? I was at the Indomie Champ challenge which was on Saturday and I feel very sad because I lost with three points And I came in second, but my beautiful friend Nyako here came number one. So I'm still Yes, she's Nyako my bear. I've been looking up to her from 2015 food blog as well. Yes, and moving on to build a business He was my desk here today at the Indomie challenge. Yes, he came in number three And it was only boy child. No, he just He went into the challenge and he came to five All right. I like that. I like that. I like that. Uh-huh. Let's see. Let me see something. Wow The famous biryani. That is the famous biryani, right? Yes Wow, I like what is happening here? Masterworks, Matumbo Going down Is this how it's written in the menu? I hope yes. Yes, Matumbo Okay, let's see some more. Let's see some more Howdy fish if you can't afford it design it Wow, I like what is that sauce? What is that sauce? This is coconut sauce. Coconut sauce. Yes Coconut sauce is uh Is a common ingredient in most of your foods. Yes coconut sauce and cumin seeds. All right. Yes. What is uh Nutrient value of coconut sauce you seem to love it so much. I love it. The taste is amazing. Yes, and it has natural oils as well Exactly. All right. Uh Boss destroy these people All right, I like I see a lot of fish. This is chips and meats chips and meat. Yes All right stirred in one pan. Yes, this is actually the biryani in it Wow, I like Sheesh, let's see some more. This is Oh All right We have that right there. We can open this picture right here. Yes the picture of the restaurant This one picture of the restaurant, please as we wrap up. So this is the setup Yes, the branding. I see the branding is beautiful. There's a flame Yes, we are burning Yes, I like and you've set up the space so well And I love what you're doing from food blogging to having your own cafe And uh, let me look at the caption being busy. Been a busy day and you did You are too tight to cook. Don't worry. We got you Just order dinner from us And we shall deliver. All right another thing I've noted is the The we article You never say I Yes, because when I imagine chef chikoni, I imagine one person you see me But there's a whole team behind me. These are whole team. They are the chefs the waiters and The partner and their parts of the family. Yes Quite selfless. Yes. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you so much. We wrap this Social media. How can they get you on social media? Chef Chikoni facebook instagram youtube chef Chikoni Subscribe And we have oh, I'm starting saying we as well And oh, I forgot I also have a segment where I give Entrepreneurship advice Like at least once a week. It's always on my instagram on IGTV. Yes And you talk about things you have very experienced in the week or what? Yes, and I even talk about how you can start a business with zero capital with zero capital Yeah, and grow it because do you have on youtube? Yes. No. No. No on my IGTV on your IGTV instagram. So IGTV Machacha IG timeline I'm all over your faces. You're all over our faces. Thank you very much Another thing before you go is a question on our facebook. Kenyans are borrowing so much Do you have a student loan before we carry on? Yes, I have help You have a help loan. Are you something? Yes, I'm trying to you're trying to see how you are talking All right, so What why do you think Kenyans are borrowing so much because after the student loan people have these mobile apps and people are taking loans from the bank and People are in debt knee deep in debt Why do you think this culture is so rampant or what do you want my honest honest honest opinion? That is why you're here. Let me tell you something I came to realize that people borrow too much Not to grow themselves not to do things that make them happy, but 90 percent of people borrow to fit in You realize people borrow maybe money to go or say on a road trip or go out drinking And if you look deep down into yourself, this is not even something you love This is not something that makes you happy You're doing it because your friends are doing it because your peers are doing it and you want to be accepted You see and you know yeah Just accept who you are and accept what you love do what you love Don't try to fit in try to stand out because you are you you are different You see But now most young people they want to live that life and everything I even tell people when you want to even start a business their sacrifices you have to make This baby shower things you're not going to show up This bridal shower things you'll not show up the party party and of course some of your friends get mad and go Hey But the people who are truly your friends will understand that you have a vision and when your things start to look up They'll be proud of you and be like we understood her and she was here. We are so proud of her But we're going out today. You're there jumping. We are going on a road trip You're never going to get to your dream. You're never going to get what's what's from checkmate? So cut your coat according to your clothes If you have 50 bobby a movie sit at home, enjoy a laugh and sleep like a baby Yes, that is still entertainment And if you can't afford it a hundred times don't buy it exactly sit your ass at home because you're nothing Sit down just whatever you make send a little to your mother father Pay your bills entertain yourself a bit not too much not something that will overwhelm you and stay happy So people are borrowing for the wrong reason for the wrong reason. It's not wrong. I can tell you honestly very few people borrow to invest It's always borrowing to go somewhere do something do this do this. I know very few people who borrow to grow Yes, thank you very much. I appreciate you Thank you barry and come to Chepchikoni I have to taste the coconut sauce I have to taste the pumpkin leaves. What part of kenya. Do you come from? I come from Um Django, I saw the fish will lose the Audi. Oh, you have to do a Benz Thank you very much. Thank you so much for the advice if you want to start a business you must sacrifice And head straight to Chepchikoni. It's located in Rwisambo in particular Yes, Rwisambo in particular Jacuagas And get a taste and support a Kenyan business and remember she said if you want to start a business you need to sacrifice My name is barry moses or it's very more social Alex is coming up next whether another amazing interview. You don't want to miss it. Don't want to