Entrepreneur of the Month: Peter Kimutai

Looking back on his life’s journey, Peter Kimutai reflects fondly on how things have turned out for him. 

“I never imagined I would get this far,” he says.

At 32 years old, Peter runs a thriving electronics shop in Kakuma town in Northwestern Kenya. Born and raised in Turkana County, Peter lived a nomadic life as his father’s career as a police officer required the family to frequently relocate across the country. Eventually, they settled in Kakuma town, where Peter began pursuing a career as an electrical technician.

His father’s eventual retirement meant that Peter could finally seek a sense of stability. Choosing to stay in Kakuma, he delved into the town’s local business scene, initially taking on minor electrical jobs and sourcing electrical devices for his friends, before taking on his first technician role at a local electronics shop.

As a trained electrical technician, Peter seemed to be on the path that he had always wanted. But over time, the desire to run his own electronics shop persisted, and in 2021, Peter set up Mugus Electronics.

Financial constraints initially hindered his progress, but in his determination to succeed, he learned about and later applied for the DREEM Project Innovation Fund in 2022, which would grant him access to both business training and financial support to expand his business. The Innovation Fund was created in partnership with Mastercard Foundation.

Peter was accepted, and benefitted from business training, mentorship, and a grant, which enabled him to receive stock worth KES 300,000 (USD $2,200) from the DREEM Innovation Fund, allowing him to scale his operations and generate a profit of KES 150,000 (USD $1,100) from sales. 

Mugus Electronics is more than a personal project. For Peter, his shop represents the opportunity to change his life and those around him. He employs 15 staff (8 full-time, and 7 part-time), giving opportunities to the same community that gave him his.

“I never imagined I would get this far and also change the lives of those around me because I have created employment opportunities for young [community members], and this really gives me joy,” he says.

Peter’s vision is to develop Mugus Electronics into a one-stop-shop for all things electronic, from gadgets to installation equipment and other services.