By Malachi Motano
Michael Ochieng and his partner Esther Omcheni co-own Afritech, a print media investment which has been in the industry since 1997. The couple share about the sweet journey they have walked with Universal Traders Sacco (UTS) since they became members three years ago, more so during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I came to know of the Sacco through one of its directors called Peter Nzagi. Every time I passed Mlolongo I could see colours that looked like Cooperative bank and was wondering whether Co-operative Bank was already here until the day I went to market my photocopiers to them that I met Peter. That is how our relationship started,” Michael who is the company CEO begins their story.
His wife Esther who is the MD at the company says the Sacco provides them with a safe haven to seek refuge in bad times.
“We joined the Sacco at the beginning of 2019 and have benefited a lot in terms of securing loans, and overdraft facility. When we wanted some money to pay entry duty for some of our good but were short of Ksh.I million, we went to our branch in Mlolongo and within that day, they released the money to us.
While their major clients were hit very had by the outbreak of Covid -19 pandemic, the company had to look for means to remain afloat.
“Our main clients are schools which were closed when cases of Covid-19 heightened. Another big client was Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) which also closed. We had their stock but could not deliver. They also had some of our money which we could not get. Meanwhile, the business had to continue. We are proud that UTS stood firmly with us,” says the MD.
According to Esther, whereas financial institutions have so many processes even for small loans like Ksh.500,000, the Sacco processes loans within a very short time.
“We have taken two loans thus development loans worth Sh28 million. We also took education loan recently for our two sons who were going to study in UK. Currently we have undertakings with our staff payroll, and all our 15 staff members have joined the Sacco as members. Nowadays my members of staff even get salaries on 24th or 25th as if they are banks,” says Esther.
Afritech therefore has no challenge with salaries. I just give out a pay roll, and they pay salaries to my staff. They even offer advance salaries to my staff. When other companies were reducing staff during the pandemic, we maintained ours.
According to the MD, the Sacco is flexible and listens to customers. Even the newest branch in Mlolongo has good management that listens and acts promptly on customer’s needs.
“You don’t need to go to the headquarters in Machakos when Mlolongo is here. Whatever we need from Machakos we can get in Mlolongo. So it is up to us to make Mlolongo grow and expand. We cannot quit UTS since it has always been there for us in times of laughter and in times of difficulties,” she concluded.
