University student who earns Sh10,000 a day from fitness business

George Wayne Murungi, a fourth year computer science student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, makes money from running Breton Bikes, a rental bike business he registered in January and started operating in March. He operates the business at Daystar University, Athi River campus and Moi University, Eldoret campus. He started in Eldoret in March and Athi River in May. Murungi went into mountain bikes rental business because of his passion for physical wellness and the protection of the environment.

“Money was not the incentive for starting Breton Bikes. All I wanted was to make sure my customers stay fit at a small cost to the environment,” says Murungi. He hires out a bicycle for Sh100 per hour.

Murungi used his savings and money from his other business in Nairobi’s Central Business District, namely Jean Jewellery. He started the business with a total of Sh250,000, which he used to purchase about 10 mountain bikes and paid rent for the shops where the bikes are kept in Eldoret and Athi River. Currently, he hires out about 100 bikes.

He says Daystar and Moi campuses are among institutions with few recreational facilities that guarantee the success of the bike rental service being offered by Breton Bikes.

Moving between campuses to supervise the business can be hectic. He has learnt to be a good time manager. He says he makes Sh10,000 per day.

High cost of maintenance of the mountain bikes and customers with “baffling personalities” are some challenges he grapples with. But he understands that challenges are an important of business growth.

The Breton Bikes squad is made up of students such as operation managers Clara Ndinda and Jessica Awino at Athi River with Daisy Jelagat at Eldoret, Kelvin and Albert Nzomo as bike mechanics at both campuses, Linet Muriuki as the head of public relations, JohnKen Methu as chief of operations at Eldoret and Ian Muge as the chief technology officer.

“I believe in teamwork and in being a leader rather than in being bossy because unity ensures that operations in the campuses our services are rendered are in order,” he says.

Murungi plans to partner with towns across the country to start bike championships.

“Be open minded and think differently. That is the only way you will stand out in this world,” he advises the youth. “In the business world, you ought to find something you are passionate about and make a living out of it.”