Biz Lounge: Meet woman feeding Nakuru's night owls

After two decades in the food business, Milka Wambui has established herself as one of Nakuru’s most recognizable street food vendors, serving customers in the city centre affordable meals at night.

Her entrepreneurial journey began out of necessity. Having tried her hand at several other ventures that did not succeed, she turned to the food business to sustain her family. 

“I had tried to start other businesses but failed. At first, I worked both during the day and evening, but I realized the high demand was in the evening,” Wambui explains. 

She notes that starting was not easy. Wambui used a loan of Sh10,000 from her Sacco to set up the business.

With time, her resilience and consistency paid off, allowing her to grow from a one-woman operation to employing six women today.

She says the early years were particularly difficult as she would wake up as early as 1 a.m. to get to town by 3 a.m., often risking her safety due to insecurity.

Additionally, during the day harassment by municipal officers was very common, which made doing business very difficult. 

Now choosing to exclusively work at night, Wambui notes that since there are no safe spaces where she can store the tables and benches, she has to carry them home daily. 

“At some point, I realized leaving things in storage was risky because items would get broken or lost, so I chose to carry them home instead,” she says.

Asked who her customers are, Wambui says she mainly serves salon workers, conductors, and small business owners, who often see her spot as more than just a food stall.

“Most drivers who come to Nakuru to sleep pass by here for food. I think they feel it is a safe place for them,” she notes.

Wambui notes that she has made her menu simple but affordable, with meals ranging from Sh100 to Sh150. A cup of tea goes for Sh30, while a chapati sells at Sh20. 

Above all, Wambui emphasizes that cleanliness is a commandment in her business. By preparing food from home rather than directly on the streets, she ensures quality and hygiene. 

“My key goal is cleanliness. The comments I get are positive, and if there’s something negative, I make sure to change it,” she says.

A challenge however is that during heavy rains, there's slow food consumption, but tea sales increase, ensuring a steady flow of customers.

“We operate Monday to Friday, reserving weekends for shopping, planning, and rest,” she states.

On a normal day, preparation begins as early as 7 a.m., and by 6 p.m., the team is in town serving customers until late in the night, often closing around 10 or 11 p.m. On a good day, food sells out by 9 p.m.

Wambui informs me that this business has enabled her to buy property, educate her children, and support extended family.

“On average, I net about Sh6,000 in daily profit after expenses. Looking ahead, I hope to own a permanent food outlet within the next five years,” she says confidently.

Her message to young people is one of persistence and humility. “Don’t give up. Just start small, be patient, be faithful, and you will earn later,” she advises