Kisumu: Man Raised In Slum Builds Magnificent Resort After Conquering In Coffee And Real Estate Industries

• Polycarp Ochola shared his journey from poverty in Manyatta slums to entrepreneurship with an inspiring story of education, determination, and the establishment of diverse ventures
• Ochola's business empire spans security firms, real estate, hospitality, and more, providing jobs for thousands and transforming Kisumu County's landscape
• Ochola's resilience was evident in overcoming accidents, business challenges, and prioritising family

What good could come out of the sprawling, poverty-ridden Manyatta slum on the outskirts of Kisumu county, one might wonder?

UON political science Gradute

Well, many people from the slum have made it in life, and entrepreneur Polycarp Ochola is one of the leading lights from the populous area.

The 55-year-old University of Nairobi Political Science graduate was born into a polygamous family, and, using his words, getting a decent education was very tough.

"I was raised in an extremely humble background; my late father didn’t even have a bicycle. My father was a teacher and had four wives. In my mother’s house (second wife) we are four; one boy and three girls all married; I am the firstborn," he told TUKO.co.ke in an interview.

"No privileges; all I have, including land, are things I bought. I didn’t inherit any piece of land from my father he only gave me an education. We had a very basic and tight life," he revealed.

Where is Guardforce Security located?

Despite the situation at home, Ochola worked hard in primary school and ended up at Ramba Boys High School for his Kenya Certificate of Education. He later advanced to Ambira High School for his Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education.

Armed with his certificates, Ochola started looking for a job and landed one at Securicor Kenya Limited, where he worked as a Branch Manager for five years. He also worked at Patriotic Guards Limited as the regional manager in Mombasa.

In 2000 the entrepreneurship bug bit him, and that's when he established the Guardforce Security Tanzania Limited. He later established ADT Security Kenya Limited with head offices in Nyali, Mombasa and countrywide.

"The company has employed 3500 guards countrywide," said the businessman.

Ochola unveils Smartassets properties Limited

As that part of his great empire continued to grow and spread its tentacles, the daring entrepreneur established Smartassets Properties Limited, dealing in buying and selling land and properties.

Additionally, he owns a petrol station chain under Excel Logistics Limited, a company that owns a chain of petrol stations within Kisumu County and its environs.

Ochola's business empire also boasts a large coffee business under Kamili Coffee estates, which owns about 30 acres of coffee farms in the Koru and Fortenan areas.

Is Koru Country Club a four-star hotel?

As if his star wasn't shining enough, Ocholla established the Koru Country Club, a four-star Hotel in the serene environment of Koru, within Kisumu county.

"It took two years to build the Koru Country Club, and it was officially opened for operations on December 24, 2021. We are now about one year, eight months in operations and it boasts of 56 rooms, four cottages, one presidential suite two restaurants, and a similar number of bars," he said.

"There is also an underground discotheque, two conference facilities, an infinity modern swimming pool, and a well-groomed garden suitable for events and team building," he added.

Kisumu county gubernatorial position

The happily married politician is a father of two wonderful boys, Max, and Tedd, who went to St. Andrews School Turi and, after that, joined the prestigious University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK, and Simon Fraser University in Canada, respectively.

Ochola was a former gubernatorial aspirant in Kisumu county during the 2022 elections. He vied under the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Although he has done so well for himself and his family, Ochola has experienced his share of misfortunes.

"On June 1, 2023, I was involved in a horrific accident at 10.30 pm. I was on my way home from Koru Country Club, when I had a head-on collision with a Sampa Matatu; I was driving my Range Rover Vogue," he said.

Regarding business, he has also encountered several challenges, but he is very grateful to God that he overcame them all.

Ochola maintains that having a solid marriage and raising two wonderful boys with his wife is his biggest achievement.

Man almost killed because of poverty builds resorts

Further afield in Uganda, a man who was almost killed by his mother because of extreme poverty is now the owner of five beautiful resorts.

Amos Wekesa overcame poverty to become a successful entrepreneur with five resorts in Uganda and Tanzania and an agro-processing business.

Wekesa's frugality reflected his commitment to breaking the chain of poverty and being careful with what he does and what he has.