George Wachiuri: From Selling Onions to A Self-Made Millionaire in Real Estate

George Wachiuri, CEO of Optiven Limited, is undoubtedly one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Kenya today.

But before becoming a known billionaire, he was just a boy from Laburra, Kieni Constituency in Nyeri, trying to make something of his life.

His early life

His father, a primary school teacher, passed away while he was still a young boy. At this time, his mother was a housewife.

This loss forced his mother to start cultivating & tilling neighbours’ lands to earn a living for her family.
Early in the morning, young George and his siblings would till their land and, in the evening, till other people’s land for just Ksh 5. Tattered clothes and hungry stomachs due to overworking characterized their daily livelihood.

George says he got his first trousers when he joined high school.

His education

After doing well in his KCPE exams, George was admitted to Chinga Boys High School in Nyeri County. His mother then sold their only milk-producing cow to raise school fees.

Due to the lack of fees, George was in and out of school, forcing him to start an onion-selling business to raise his fees. This entrepreneurial spirit helped him pay school fees and enabled his mother to buy food.

After secondary school, George excelled and was admitted to the University of Nairobi (Kabete Campus) to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing Option) course.

During this time, George ventured into different businesses, including photography, laundry, and a library business, hiring out newspapers and magazines for his fellow hostel students.

In 1997, he was awarded the Best and Most Entrepreneurial Student by the university.

Professional Life

After university, he looked for a job for a very long time and made several applications to many companies. He later got his first job as an accountant at Uchumi Supermarket.
Later, he worked for the Lutheran World Organization as a social worker at Kakuma Refugee Camp.

After ten years of employment, he had saved 5 million shillings. He decided to quit his job to start a land business.

Little did he know that he was going to lose his lifetime savings to a con man who promised to sell him genuine land.

“After the loss, I swore that I would never do business again, but I remembered that winners never quit and quitters never win,” George said.

However, his family supported him to overcome the depression and accept the situation and get back on his feet.

Birth of Optiven Limited

In 2008, George founded Optiven as a general supplies entity which diversified operations into the real estate sector.
“My previous businesses failed, acting as a lesson to do better; my appetite for taking risks grew due to many failed ventures that I started.” He said.

His big break

In 2015, George Wachiuri was crowned with a global award as the Best & Most Innovative Entrepreneur in Kenya in The US Mashujaa Awards.

In 2014, Optiven emerged as number one among Kenya’s Top 100 mid-sized companies and the best Real Estate firm.

In the same year, the company was also awarded the best in customer service, and in 2017, it was voted the leading super brand in East Africa.

“My previous businesses failed, but my appetite for taking risks grew due to many failed ventures that I started,” He says.

He is currently an advisor on the Board of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and a board member of Brook Hurst International School.

Final thoughts

“I learnt from the initiatives that no one should ever give up. I learnt to focus on my vision, trust in God, be self-disciplined, network relentlessly, be passionate about my undertakings, work smart and hire smarter people than me.”

He attributes his success to his faith in God. That is why his firm dedicates millions of shillings to its Optiven Foundation, which supports needy children nationwide.