We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kwamboka Kariuki. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kwamboka below.

Kwamboka, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I visited Kenya back in April of 2019 and saw a friend’s business almost going out of business. She’s so talented and had always made all of my outfits. To help her, I started taking orders from friends and family. Being a CPA, I started to think of ways turning this into a business could be mutually beneficial. And that was the start of Kwamboka the business. Seeing her business start to blossom again due to the partnership, we started partnering with a few more vendors from Kenya. Being born and raised there, and knowing the struggles everyday people go through; the partnerships are intended to help the vendors in Kenya, but also bring exposure to Kenyan goods to the US audience- meshing my 2 homes.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As mentioned, our business started out to help a friend back home. Since inception, her business has expanded due to our partnership and she’s been able to employ a few people. We have also partnered with a few more vendors (5), to offer a variety of made in Kenya goods.
In addition to the vendors, we have also partnered with a NGO that provided feminine hygiene products to those in need in the slums of Nairobi. The name of the Org is Her Flow my Concern. We do fundraising and also donations to this cause.
There is an African proverb that says “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito”. For me, this means that regardless of how small our impact might seem, it def is making a difference.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

My business is definitely self funded at the moment. Any profits are re-invested back into the business. I was an avid traveler, but now that budget is set aside to grow the business. Working on processes to make life a little easier. I’ll definitely be back out in these airport streets, but for now, the focus is to grow the business. It’s about give and take and priorities and that’s where I’m at currently.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Pivot is the name of the game! Honestly any success i’ve had i attribute to my ability to change and adapt. My business was getting ‘hot’ mainly at pop-ups and then COVID happened. I had to pivot to social media, and as much as I hate it, I still show up because that was one way to sell during that time. Then I had a move from Florida to the DMV and had to adapt to a new market in a new city.
I’ve committed myself to doing the work and surrender to the outcome. Change is the only constant.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kwamboka.com
• Instagram: @Kwamboka_KE
• Facebook: facebook.com/KwambokaKE
• Other: TikTok: @Kwamboka_KE

Image Credits
@Kwamboka_ke