{"id":89098,"date":"2018-12-03T11:26:47","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T08:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.com\/ke\/?p=89098"},"modified":"2018-12-03T11:33:01","modified_gmt":"2018-12-03T08:33:01","slug":"from-a-single-shop-to-an-empire-samchi-group-ceo-esther-muchemi-opens-up-about-her-journey-to-the-top","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/from-a-single-shop-to-an-empire-samchi-group-ceo-esther-muchemi-opens-up-about-her-journey-to-the-top\/","title":{"rendered":"From a single shop to an empire!\u00a0Samchi group CEO\u00a0Esther Muchemi opens up about her journey to the top"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Esther Muchemi is one of the most successful businesswomen in Kenya. Her journey to the top started some 18 years ago when she founded\u00a0Samchi Telecom to sell airtime as the\u00a0mobile revolution was just about to sweep the country in 2000.<\/p>\n<p>Samchi Telecom was first\u00a0honoured as the top M-Pesa agent by Safaricom in 2009. The company has\u00a0severally been ranked as top airtime dealer for Safaricom in subsequent years.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also important to note that\u00a0Samchi was the pioneer M-Pesa dealer when the mobile money was invented.\u00a0M-Pesa was piloted at Samchi for six months before it was rolled out.\u00a0Esther Muchemi was the first to transact with M-Pesa in Kenya holding the till number 0001.<\/p>\n<h5>The story behind Esther&#8217;s success<\/h5>\n<p>Esther Muchemi&#8217;s efforts to set up one of Kenya\u2019s most successful businesses has seen her nominated and won several\u00a0business awards across the continent as well as across the globe.<\/p>\n<p>Muchemi talks about her journey to the top in her newly launched book\u00a0\u201cGive Me My Mountain\u201d. The book was officially launched on Friday December 31st 2018.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther6.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-89104 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"612\" height=\"744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther6.jpg 518w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther6-247x300.jpg 247w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The book launch, which was held at Serena Hotel, was graced by industrialist\u00a0Manu Chandaria, CS Public affairs, Youth and Gender Prof Margret Kobia, CEO\u00a0Bob Collymore, KCB CEO\u00a0Joshua Oigara,\u00a0Rafiki Bank MD\u00a0Ken Obimbo, Nairobi Women Rep Esther Passaris, Nyeri Deputy Governor\u00a0Carol Karugu among other high profile guests.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_89099\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89099\" style=\"width: 614px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-89099 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther1.jpg\" alt=\"Esther Muchemi with Cabinet Secretary Public affairs, Youth and Gender Prof Margret Kobia who was the chief guest at her book launch \" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther1.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther1-690x460.jpg 690w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-89099\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Esther Muchemi with Cabinet Secretary Public affairs, Youth and Gender Prof Margret Kobia who was the chief guest at her book launch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_89100\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89100\" style=\"width: 613px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-89100 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther2.jpg\" alt=\"Manu Chandaria -Chairman Chandaria group at Esther Muchemi's book launch\" width=\"613\" height=\"1160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther2.jpg 579w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther2-158x300.jpg 158w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther2-541x1024.jpg 541w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 613px) 100vw, 613px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-89100\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manu Chandaria -Chairman Chandaria group at Esther Muchemi&#8217;s book launch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_89102\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89102\" style=\"width: 614px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-89102 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther4.jpg\" alt=\"Esther Muchemi and Esther Passaris at the book launch \" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther4.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther4-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther4-690x460.jpg 690w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-89102\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Esther Muchemi and Esther Passaris at the book launch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Celebrities such as DJ Mo, Jimmy Gait were also in attendance.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_89101\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89101\" style=\"width: 621px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-89101 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther3.jpg\" alt=\"DJ Mo at the book launch \" width=\"621\" height=\"429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther3.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther3-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther3-768x531.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther3-1024x708.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-89101\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">DJ Mo at the book launch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_89103\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89103\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-89103 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther5.jpg\" alt=\"Jimmy Gait at the book launch \" width=\"624\" height=\"695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther5.jpg 719w, https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/esther5-269x300.jpg 269w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-89103\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jimmy Gait at the book launch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;Give me my Mountain&#8221; details Esther Muchemi&#8217;s entrepreneurial journey to success, being one of the most successful business leaders in Africa.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The title of this book \u201cGive Me My Mountain\u201d 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,&#8221; said Esther Muchemi during the book launch.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Esther Muchemi is one of the most successful businesswomen in Kenya. Her journey to the top started some 18 years ago when she founded\u00a0Samchi Telecom to sell airtime as the\u00a0mobile revolution was just about to sweep the country in 2000. Samchi Telecom was first\u00a0honoured as the top M-Pesa agent by Safaricom in 2009. The company [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2834,"featured_media":89105,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[310],"tags":[87074],"class_list":["post-89098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-esther-muchemi-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2834"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89098"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89110,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89098\/revisions\/89110"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghafla.co.ke\/ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}