By Dennis Bett
Emmanuel Changalwa Shikuku, a
Primary School Head Teacher at
St. Emmanuel School in Trans-
Nzoia County, is living in a beautiful
house courtesy of loans from Trans National
Times Sacco.
“When I got employed by the TSC, I
never imagined that it was possible to accomplish
anything in life with my using
my meager salary. In those days, taking a
loan from the bank was too expensive,”
said Mr. Shikuku.
It all began more than 16 years ago
when Changalwa visited his friend in
Bomet County. He was surprised that his
friend, who was also a teacher like him,
owned a house.
“I joined Trans National Times on the
advice of this friend and begun saving so
as to invest in construction of my own
house,” said Shikuku.
Shikuku took the first loan of Sh 39,
000 from the Sacco to buy a 2-acre plot
in Kiminini. He went on for another loan
of Sh 250,000 from Trans National Times
Sacco and topped up this amount with
his own Sh 50,000 to purchase a second
plot in Bidii, Kitale town.
In 2005, he approached Trans National
Times Sacco for another loan of
Sh 280,000-cash that was all used up in
putting up the foundation of his mansion.
This project stalled for another
four years before Shikuku borrowed another
loan of Sh 200,000, which pushed
up the building upto the roof.
“I borrowed another Sh 200,000
which enabled me to finally complete
construction of the mansion in 2013,”
said Shikuku.
Trans National Times Sacco management
came and officially opened
the mansion that same year. He has
already entered into partnership with
Trans National Times Sacco to build
rental houses in several of his plots in
Kitale. Shikuku currently runs a hotel
business in Kitale and is constantly receiving
financial assistance from Trans
Nation Times Sacco, including frequent
loan top ups, to improve and expand his
business empire.
Shikuku, a father of five has educated
all his children through school,
college and university using loans from
Trans Nation Times Sacco.
Apart from real estate and hotel business,
Shikuku has also moved from maize
to sugarcane farming. He has put 3- acre
plot under sugarcane and says venture is
profitable
