Seated on her wooden stool, counting the number of the newly imported juicy tomatoes, Dora Achieng, proudly narrates her transformational journey, a journey she chose as a last resort for her financial independence.
Ms. Achieng, who is currently a member of Ports Sacco in Mombasa, says she has held firm to the sacco which she considers her life saver for more than five years. She first joined Ports Sacco after being introduced to it by her former employer where she worked as a house help.
At the time, she was battling financially and she had to go through the tough hurdles of life by cleaning and washing clothes for her boss which in return, she would receive food to feed her young son and a few shillings as payment for the loads of work done.
Upon joining the sacco, she began saving part of the little money she earned with the society which later enabled her get a loan that helped her start her tomato selling business.
Currently she supplies tomatoes to other sellers in Kaa Chonjo area after liaising with farmers who she sources the product from. She has however, added quite some other products such as potatoes and other grocery to her tomato business and hopes to expand even further from her current business in the next few years.
She further explains that her lifestyle has been transformed by the business and she is now able to afford food, clothing and even pay for her own rent comfortably unlike the days where she would survive with just one meal a day.
She praised the sacco for being her go-to option when she needed help the most and would wish anyone interested in starting a business to register with saccos in order to thrive financially and be able to take charge of their personal finances.
Share this story:
