How I Started a Secondhand Clothes Business in Kenya with Just 500 Shillings

When I lost my job, I thought my world had crumbled. I had 500 shillings to my name, and the bills didn’t care. One evening, as I stared at my half-empty wallet, a friend casually mentioned Gikomba Market. “You can start a mitumba business with just 500 bob,” she said. I laughed nervously. “Do I look like a businessperson?” I asked. “You’ll learn,” she replied with a grin.

The next morning, I was up at 5 a.m., heading to Gikomba with my 500 shillings clutched like my life depended on it—because it did. The market was chaotic but buzzing with opportunity. After some nervous negotiating (and probably looking like a complete amateur), I bought a small bundle of ladies’ tops for 480 shillings. I had 20 shillings left, just enough for lunch (a cup of chai and mandazi). Yap! nothing is impossible in Gikomba!

Armed with my little haul, I decided to sell online. I took pictures of the tops, carefully angled to make them look like something straight out of a boutique. I posted them on WhatsApp Status with captions like, “Trendy tops for ONLY 250 shillings! Grab yours before they’re gone!”

To my surprise, I sold three tops that same day and made 750 shillings. I reinvested the profits and bought more stock. By the second week, I had regular customers asking for specific sizes and styles. A month later, I wasn’t just surviving, I was thriving.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I once bought a bundle of clothes only to realize half of them looked like they’d been through a tornado. Lesson learned: always check the quality before paying. But every mistake became a lesson, and every win boosted my confidence.

Today, I have a thriving secondhand clothes business with loyal customers and enough income to pay my bills—and then some. It all started with 500 shillings and a leap of faith.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a business but felt held back, let this be your sign. Gikomba is waiting, and so are your future customers. Take that 500 bob and turn it into something great. You never know, you might just surprise yourself!