From waitress to property mogul: Gamble that paid off

Sarah Aluoch, CEO Sarahfine Investment Limited {Courtesy} 

At a time when many young professionals dream of stable employment and a monthly salary, Sarah Aluoch chose a different path. The decision was neither easy nor risk-free, but it transformed her life from a hotel employee serving guests to a successful entrepreneur managing properties, selling land and helping families find homes.

Today, the soft-spoken businesswoman in her early 40s runs Sarahfine Investments Limited, a property management and real estate company based in Utawala along Nairobi’s Eastern Bypass. Her journey from the hospitality industry to entrepreneurship is a story of determination, patience and calculated risk-taking.

Aluoch began her career after graduating from Kenya Utalii College with qualifications in hotel management and tour operations. She secured employment at the then Grand Regency Hotel, now Laico Regency, where she worked as a waitress serving local and international guests.

Although she enjoyed interacting with customers, including high-profile personalities, she quickly realised that her salary would not be enough to achieve her ambitions. “I wanted to own property and build my own home,” she recalls. “When I looked at my income and the cost of living, I realised it would take many years to achieve those goals through employment alone.”

While many colleagues settled into the routine of monthly pay cheques, Aluoch started saving part of her salary. quietly preparing for a different future.

Her breakthrough came when she spotted an opportunity in fashion. She began travelling to Nigeria to source high-quality African attire. Her clientele included professional women, politicians and media personalities who appreciated unique styles. She later expanded into shoes, handbags, wigs and hats sourced mainly from the United Kingdom. The profits enabled her to buy a plot in Utawala and eventually build her own house.

New horizons

Looking back, she believes leaving formal employment changed the course of her life. “I could not have achieved some of these milestones if I had remained in employment,” she says, adding; “Business gave me opportunities that my salary could not.”

As her fashion enterprise flourished, she identified another opportunity in real estate. Nairobi’s growing suburbs were attracting homebuyers and investors searching for affordable housing. With guidance from a former schoolmate already in the industry, she ventured into property management and housing consultancy.

What started as a small operation with four employees gradually evolved into a thriving enterprise. Today, her firm employs about 20 people and manages more than 200 housing units across Nairobi.

The company helps clients buy and sell plots, lease houses, find rental homes and manage residential properties. Its services have expanded beyond Nairobi to Kisumu, Mombasa and Malindi. “We connect people to opportunities,” Aluoch explains. “Whether someone is looking for a plot, a house to buy or a place to rent, our role is to help them find the right property efficiently.”

The transition from salaried employment to entrepreneurship was not without challenges. Unlike a predictable monthly income, business earnings fluctuate. “It felt like gambling at first,” she says with a smile. “You leave the security of a salary and enter a world where nothing is guaranteed.”

The Covid-19 pandemic brought her biggest test. Property transactions slowed dramatically as businesses closed and household incomes declined. Restrictions also disrupted her clothing import business. “There were moments when we feared we might have to shut down,” she recalls. “Many clients delayed payments, while others cancelled transactions altogether.”

Even after the pandemic, economic challenges persisted. Rising taxes, reduced consumer spending and job losses affected both the property and retail sectors. Some clients attempted to bypass agents after being introduced to property owners, denying the company its rightful commission.

Despite the setbacks, Aluoch refused to give up. Instead, she diversified services, embraced cost-cutting measures and restructured operations to remain competitive.

Today, her focus is firmly on real estate and property management, sectors she believes still hold enormous potential despite economic uncertainties.

Her success, she says, has been built on patience, persistence and strong relationships with clients. Demand remains high in growing areas, such as Utawala, Kamulu, Mlolongo, Kitengela and along Kangundo Road.

What keeps her going? Patience and the desire to inspire others. “Many young women ask me about starting capital,” she says. “I tell them it’s not always about money. In property sales, what you need are contacts, a good smartphone, a laptop and an internet connection. The rest follows.”

“Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. The economy is changing and people must be willing to innovate. Sometimes the biggest opportunities lie outside the careers we originally trained for,” she says in ending.