Harnessing the power of the sun

“I work late nights so I get to sleep in a little bit in the mornings. I was up at 7 am this morning and set about my day after my morning devotion. I realised a few years ago that as much as we like to think of the world as progressive, when it comes to energy, the world is ultimately going back to ancient energy sources. Most houses going up today have a solar power system in place. I saw a gap in the market and founded Lumitech Limited two years ago.  The company imports, sells and installs solar lighting and water heating systems.

“This morning, like most mornings, was spent on site surveying premises for installation. I work alongside a team of engineers and electricians. I realised this was necessary very early on when I started the business. It’s tough being a young woman in a male-dominated field. When I started off, I made sure to give my services to a few friends and family members and my business grew from there. Nothing can market you better than a satisfied client.

A LITTLE MOTIVATION

“I spent my lunch break in the office catching up on international news and social media. I also called my dad. He runs several businesses and is my business mentor. I like to consult with him every so often.

“In the afternoon, I held a few meetings for my second job. In addition to being a founding partner, I also double up as the editor of Art Venture a magazine that looks into Kenyan art. Kenyan artists are really good but they are not as appreciated or well-paid as they should be. When you interact with them, you realise that many do not even see their capabilities and need a little bit of motivation. The aim of the magazine is to give the little-known ones a platform to put their work out there. This job requires that I have my eyes open for interesting art pieces all day, every day.

“I made sure that I had wrapped up my meetings in time to be home at 6pm. I played with my son Jayden and did a bit of bonding with our dog before settling down to prepare dinner. After tucking Jayden in, I spent two hours on my computer studying for my post-graduate course. Before turning in, I like to take stock of the day that was. As much as I want my businesses to succeed, I can’t help asking myself how they will help other people. Being able to help others without thinking too much about it is my absolute goal.”