Developing Property

CAROLYNE NEKESA KUNDU, 35, owns a real estate business, she talks to Shirley Genga

What do you do?

I am currently in the real estate business. My business is called Homelink Enterprises Limited. We do property development and deal with homes, plots and land in Nairobi metropolitan.

What did you study in school ?

I grew up in Webuye, Bungoma and as a child I always loved nature and wanted to do something to help nurture the environment. I went to Manana Friends Primary school and Cardinal Otunga Girls High school. While in high school I told my career teacher about my love for the environment and she advised me to pursue Environmental studies which I did at Kenyatta University. I graduated in 2000 with a first class honours and as a result I got a scholarship to do my masters at Kenyatta University. I thus went back to school to do a Masters in Environment Planning and Management. I graduated in 2002.

What did you do after graduating?

I joined a company that was involved with Market Research. It was not what I wanted to do but it was a job. It taught me how to deal with clients and perform market research. I left after two years since I felt I was neglecting what I learnt in Campus. I then got a job at Practical Action which dealt with Waste management, Urban planning and community development. I was an Environment Planner and Environmental Project Officer there. The management arranged a three week training for us in the UK back in 2009. We went to learn about environmental services and market approach but while there we visited East Midland Agency and we learnt about growth strategy that was targeting women between the ages of 28 to 35. The purpose of the strategy was to empower women so they could start their own businesses. And I kept thinking that I was part of the age group and I had not tried my hand in business. So in March of 2011 after thinking over the idea for over a year I decided that it was time to move on and do business. I did not know what I wanted to do exactly; I just knew that it was time to move and to grow.

So how did you figure out your next step?

Back in 2010, I had applied for registration of my business before I knew what I wanted to do and it was registered by February 2011. My husband thought I was joking when I told him that I had not renewed my employment contract. So while trying to figure out my next move I realised that some of the plots I had bought in Mavoko and Nakuru back in the day, had really appreciated in value. So I sold them to get capital to start my business but during the process it hit me that real estate was a very lucrative market. I am an Environmental planner and registered environmental impact expert, so although I wanted to get into real estate but I also wanted to infuse what I had learnt in school. So I started a business where I would not only offer consultancy services as a lead environmental impact expert but one where I would also get involved in the real estate market. My company basically deals with management and development of property. I wanted to buy and sell property but not as an agent for others and I also did not want to be a landlord. The company buys and develops property and land for sale.

What do you love about your job?

The fact that I am still involved with environmental issues through my job as an expert consultant but I also get to be an entrepreneur through my real estate involvement.

How is the business doing so far?

It is doing well so much so that we have expanded our services. We are involved in real estate, research, Environment Impact Assesment,Project Development ,Strategy management and offering consultancy services

Advice for others...

We all would love to do what we studied in University but sometimes we end up limiting ourselves .It is good to always look beyond your degree and find out what else you are good at.