Busia Man Rises From Running Kiosk To Tesia Supermarket Chain Owner

• John Kariuki Maina is the proprietor and chief executive officer of Tesia Supermarket in Busia and other Western Kenya towns
• Maina started with a small kiosk selling basic goods, and over the years, his business expanded, paving the way for the establishment of a supermarket
• Tesia Supermarket supplies goods to residents in Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Siaya and Port Victoria markets

When John Kariuki Maina and his wife opened a kiosk in the early 2000s, they did not envisage it would expand into a big business.

Two decades later, the couple own Tesia Supermarket in Busia with several branches. Besides selling different goods, it manufactures bread, scones, cookies, doughnuts and a variety of cakes, as per its LinkedIn profile.

Maina recalled that they started with a small shop that sold basic foodstuff and commodities.

"At the time, we only sold a limited range of small items, including foodstuffs, a handful of cosmetics and household items," Maina said, as quoted by Who Owns Kenya.

Tesia Supermarket

Over time as it expanded, the retailer supplies goods to residents in Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Siaya and Port Victoria markets.

“The first block of this supermarket was cast years ago when we opened doors to our customers as a small kiosk," Maina revealed.

Maina and his wife demolished their kiosk and built a high-rise building which houses Tesla Supermarket.

The retailer's first outlet was in Busia, with Maina as the chief executive officer (CEO). Besides Tesia Supermarket, Maina and his wife launched Tesia Restaurant.

Tesia Supermarket

The supermarket chain employs over 300 people. Apart from its main markets in Bungoma, Malaba and Busia, it serves Amagoro, Port Victoria, Bumala, Nambale, Amukura, Sio Port, Butula, and Funyula residents.

Ugandans also source goods from the retailer. It makes over US$109.15 million (KSh 15.5 billion) in sales.

Maina cited operational costs as one of the challenges. With frequent blackouts, he resorts to using diesel generators to prevent losses.

Naivas family feud

In other news, Sibling rivalry has rocked giant Kenyan retailer Naivas Supermarket Limited after the eldest son of Peter Mukuha Kago opposed the sale of an extra 11% stake worth US$ 41.7 million (KSh 5.92 billion) to foreign investors.

Newton Kagira Mukuha opposed the sale of the extra shares to Mauritian conglomerate IBL Group through Mambo Retail.

Through his lawyers Ahmednasir Abdullahi Advocates LLP, Kagira wants the deal shelved, arguing it contravened an order issued by the Court of Appeal in November 2021 that prohibited dealing in disputed shares.