Kenya Stories

List of all articles filed under “kenya-stories” category.

How Storage Central is Expanding Secure Self-Storage Across Nairobi

Storage Central is a modern self-storage company in Nairobi focused on delivering secure, affordable, and flexible storage solutions to Kenya’s growing urban population and SME sector. In this in-depth interview, CEO Gerardo Segura and COO Nicholas Sadron shares the company’s vision, expansion strategy, and the unique advantages that make Storage Central Nairobi’s preferred provider of self-storage solutions.

Since its last funding round, the company has raised $700,000 to expand its Nairobi storage facility, adding 1,800 square meters and 180 new storage rooms. With occupancy averaging 75 percent, demand for secure storage units in Nairobi remains strong. This modern self-storage facility now offers nearly 7,900 sqm of leasable space with 860 individual storage units, reflecting Nairobi’s growing need for dedicated storage solutions tailored to both residential and SME storage needs.

Nicholas Sadron highlights that self-storage in Nairobi is not only about warehouse alternatives but about enabling flexible storage options that support Kenya’s micro-SMEs, NGOs, and entrepreneurs. Affordable and secure self-storage Nairobi solutions allow businesses to scale up during busy seasons and downsize in slow periods without long-term commitments, supporting economic resilience and sustainable growth. Examples include Matumba dealers in Nairobi who use pay-as-you-use storage units for sorting and distributing secondhand clothing, and medical supply companies like Field Technologies, which grew from 20 to 325 square meters within Storage Central’s facility.

Storage Central’s strategic expansion plan aims to develop 15 to 20 new storage facilities in East Africa, including key markets such as Kampala, Dar es Salaam, and Mauritius, over the next decade. The company is currently looking to raise $20 million to build five additional storage facilities in Nairobi, emphasizing the investment opportunity in East Africa’s self-storage industry. The CEO notes that self-storage investment East Africa represents a rare, untapped market, given the region’s urban density, growing SME sector, and lack of modern self-storage facilities.

Gerardo Segura explains their financing strategy, preferring debt over equity to reduce shareholder dilution while balancing foreign exchange risk with a currency buying program. He describes Storage Central’s lean business model as inherently resilient, with low operational costs, month-to-month rental flexibility, and highly atomized customer base that diversifies risk and ensures financial stability.

Beyond offering secure rental storage units, Storage Central provides value-added services such as insurance-included storage units (with standard coverage of KES 50,000), locks, and transport assistance. Its digital experience includes an online space calculator and reservation system, with plans to scale CRM systems and localize services in Swahili and English to support expansion across East African markets. However, the CEO emphasizes that despite AI and automation trends in global self-storage markets, human-centered customer service remains a competitive advantage in Africa, where face-to-face engagement and trust-building are essential for converting customers.

Gerardo Segura’s message to investors is clear: Storage Central is unlocking opportunity in Africa’s overlooked markets by offering modern, accessible, and flexible storage solutions. It’s not about creating a new need but improving an existing one with purpose-built self-storage facilities that are safe, convenient, and tailored to local realities.

Behind the Scenes of Africa’s Digital Finance: Virtual Pay’s White-Label Strategy for Banks and Financial institutions

In this section of the interview with David Morema, CEO of Virtual Pay, he explains why the company has been cautious about extending its services to the retail market. Morema highlights that the primary challenge lies in client acquisition and market penetration, which can be both resource-intensive and slow when targeting individual consumers.

Instead, Virtual Pay has chosen to focus on its core clientele: banks and larger financial institutions. According to Morema, this strategic focus enables the company to maximize its impact by providing seamless, white-labelled payment solutions that these institutions can offer to their own clients. He emphasizes that Virtual Pay does not view itself as a competitor to banks and financial institutions. Rather, the company positions itself as a collaborator and partner, enhancing the financial ecosystem by helping banks deliver cutting-edge payment services under their own brand.

This approach, Morema explains, not only aligns with Virtual Pay’s strengths but also allows for scalable growth and sustained innovation within the financial services sector.

Inside RFH Healthcare: Dr. Maxwell Okoth on PET-CT Scans, Lutetium Therapy, and Cancer Care in Kenya

In this exclusive interview, Marcopolis speaks with Dr. Maxwell Okoth , a visionary entrepreneur and the founder and Group Managing Director of RFH Healthcare , one of the fastest-growing healthcare networks in Kenya. Dr. Okoth shares insights into the evolution of RFH from a modest clinic to a trailblazing medical institution , addressing the urgent need for affordable healthcare in Kenya . He discusses the critical role of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) , the transition from NHIF to SHIF , and Kenya’s journey toward universal health coverage .

comprehensive offering as one of the few healthcare providers offering comprehensive cancer care in Kenya , RFH is leading the charge with innovative treatments such as PET-CT scans , lutetium therapy for prostate cancer , and brachytherapy . Dr. Okoth also touches on the importance of medical imaging services , minimally invasive surgery , and access to advanced radiotherapy machines in transforming oncology services.

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