Businessman Simon Wachira owns Magunas Supermarket, Nokras Riverine Hotel, Kilele Mall in Kenol and Nokras Hotel both in Murang’a County.
Wachira has previously narrated how he rose from being a hawker to owning a business empire trading under Maguna Andu Wholesalers.
He was born and raised in Kiburu village on the border of Nyeri and Kirinyaga counties before relocating to Murang’a county.
Wachira started hawking in Mukuyu market in the 1980s.
He revealed that the job has challenges, but he still managed to save from his earnings.
Afterwards, he opened a retail shop in Mukuyu township in 1990.
“The little I saved from my hawking helped establish a shop with a small loan. Let me tell you that you cannot expand any business without the back-up from friends you have invested along the way,” he said.
Wachira proceeded to start Maguna Andu Wholesalers just close to the shop when business was booming.
He obtained goods from manufacturers on credit at the start.
The businessman said his family played a critical role in running his empire.
Wachira said the youth must be trained in his best management practices, just like he did with his children.
“For one to succeed, payment for goods and services obtained is crucial for one to win the trust of players in the value chain,” he said.
Simon Wachira Opens Magunas Supermarkets
His business grew further, and he opened Magunas Supermarkets using the profits he made from his wholesale business.
The first branch was at the Kwa Maji area, which is now known as Magunas Stage.
The Supermarket has since grown with four branches in Nyeri, Meru, Kitui and Nairobi.
It has two branches in the City County at Kahawa Wendani and Utawala.
The Kitui branch was started in 2016 and broke the monopoly of Naivas within the county.
The supermarket also delivers goods to its customers in Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Laikipia.
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Hospitality Industry
Wachira joined the hospitality industry in 2012 by establishing Nokras Hotel in Murang’a.
This is a four-star facility located in a prime location behind the then Kenol Kobil Petrol Station next to Magunas supermarket along Murang’a – Makuyu road.
Wachira opened Nokras Riverine Hotel and Spa in Sagana in 2018.
The Hotel has 65 rooms, 29 cottages and conference facilities that can host 1,000-plus participants at once.
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In 2019, the facility hosted guests, mainly politicians, attending the sixth Devolution Conference that was held in Kirinyaga County.
Nokras changed the trading industry as corporates who previously held meetings in Thika and Nyeri opted for its conference halls.
The hotel has also been used by Utalii College to train its employees in the Mount Kenya region.
Additionally, Wachira owns Kilele Mall, which is also located in Kenol, Murang’a County.
Some of the services in the mall include a petrol station, a supermarket, and an entertainment joint.
Spiritual Life
Despite being one of the successful sons of Murang’a, Wachira is a committed church member of St Joseph the Worker, Mumbi Catholic Church.
In July 2020, the tycoon donated a truck full of foodstuffs to Bishop James Wainaina of the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a in order to be distributed to the needy people in the society.
Bishop James Wainaina of the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a confirmed that Wachira is a humble man who rarely misses Sunday services.
“Unless he is out of town, he never misses church services. He is a down-to-earth man who participates in all church and community activities,” he said.
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