Rags to riches: Investor’s lessons on how to make it big in a start-up business

At the height of presidential elections campaigns in December 2007, billionaire industrialist Narenda Raval, popularly known as Guru, arranged for a meeting between the then President Mwai Kibaki and then ODM Kenya leader Kalonzo Musyoka, both of who were contesting in the polls.

During the meeting at his house, Mr Kibaki’s strategist, Mr Stanley Murage, asked Mr Musyoka to drop his ambitions and support Mr Kibaki, who was seeking re-election against an onslaught of a united opposition led by Mr Raila Odinga.

Mr Musyoka was promised Cabinet slots and plum parastatal appointments for his key backers. He declined the offer and insisted that his name would be on the ballot.

However, the seeds of the cooperation between the two leaders had been planted and, after the disputed election of that December, Mr Musyoka was named Vice President after Mr Kibaki was controversially declared the winner.

That is one of the anecdotes contained in the autobiography of one of Kenya’s richest industrialist, popularly known for his first venture, Devki Steel Mills. The 314-page book is aptly named Guru, A Long Walk to Success.

The six-part publication is co-authored with writer Kailash Mota, an accountant who stopped looking at books of account to start writing books.

INSIGHT IN BUSINESS

Given that many wealthy individuals treat writing their autobiographies the same way they treat losses -- by trying to avoid them at all possible cost -- it is laudable that Guru has taken the time to write about the lessons her has learnt in business and his experiences with politicians in a book that reveals how both work.

However, he just tells enough and tactfully avoids revealing too much of either. The autobiography offers insights into his various businesses, his family life, advice on running an enterprise and his encounters with top politicians.

However, it rarely reveals intricate details of these relationships. This is despite the fact that he counts all top politicians, including President Uhuru Kenyatta, among his friends. This expectation is set by forewords authored by President Kenyatta, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and The Lord Loomba of Britain’s House of Lords.

That said, if you are looking for a pick-me-up book that inspires you to succeed in business and make it in life, Guru, A Long Walk to Success fits the bill. But if you want a glimpse into how closeness to political power helps in that success, the book only gives you only a glimpse not a mouthful of that.

Guru talks about his encounters with powerful men like retired president Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and President Kenyatta only in passing.

However, he reveals how the Indian family system helps the community's sons and daughters to succeed in business and their belief in what many of us would not understand; the world of astrology and palm reading, arts that attempts to foretell the future.

For instance, Guru read former AG Charles Njonjo’s palm and predicted his downfall, much to the chagrin of the then powerful minister. Shortly after the reading, Mr Njonjo was kicked out unceremoniously after a commission of inquiry was formed to investigate his conduct.

At a more personal level, the book traces Guru's roots from the little-known village of Mathak in Gujarat, India and how that family journey eventually culminated in the creation of East Africa’s biggest business groups. Today, Devki straddles the industrial world of steel, cement, infrastructure and aviation.

The companies jointly employ more than 4,000 people across Africa.

THE JOURNEY

Guru starts his journey in India as the son of a peasant trader whose father is ostracised by the family after a disagreement. The dirt poor young man survives on the grace of well-wishers and relatives to scrap through school. They slept hungry sometimes.

His big break came when he came to Kenya as a priest for Indian temple. For the non-Indians, the book reveals the intricate role of religion and family in the Indian community.

Throughout his stay in Kenya, Guru survives on the support of his followers and prominent Indian families in Nairobi, Kisumu and Nakuru, many of whom he mentions in the book.

When he decided to venture into business by starting a hardware shop in Gikomba, the community not only offered him financial support but also stock and even money for rent. But the man did not thrive on just that. He also expounds the role of banks, especially KCB, in financing most of his risky ventures.

For those who fear bank loans, there are tips on how to leverage them to climb the ladder of business success. His ambition, drive and need to produce goods and services at the cheapest price is also illuminated.

Guru, A Long Walk to Success, also paints the challenges it takes to start a business and the impact it has on a young family, including how to balance between work and family.

The book navigates through some of his landmark moments, including a tragedy in one of the factories and the impact it had on him. His philanthropy and passion for helping the poor is also captured aptly in the book.

Stylistically, the book starts slowly but picks up tempo as it progresses. The short chapters are also easy to read and comprehend.