To lend to an African: a Russian on a business of microloans in Kenya
Photo from the personal archive of Mikhail Lyapin
Mikhail Lyapin moved to Africa to give microloans to local residents. He rented an apartment in one of the richest areas of the capital of Kenya. About your life and startup promotion says в Telegram-channel.
Why the entrepreneur decided to move, that in African business practices he was surprised and whether he was going home, he said The Village.
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Why did I choose Kenya? There are only three business centers in Africa: Lagos is the second city of Nigeria, Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, and Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa. I did not even think about the latter: this is the most developed country in Africa, which means that high entry costs are provided. I wanted to go to Lagos - Mark Zuckerberg recently visited there, there are even offices there Google and Microsoft. But in Kenya, cheaper employees, but for me it is important. Plus Nairobi is a less criminal city, although it is called Nairobbery (pun: “Nairobi” and “robbery” (English “robbery”). - Approx. Ed.).
At first, I thought that I would do everything necessary in Africa in a few months, and then I would be replaced by a local manager. But it turned out that it would take a year and a half. Today I live in Kenya for four months. This week we issued 20 first loans.
Photo from the personal archive of Mikhail Lyapin
Move
Before the move, I was renting an apartment in Moscow for 8 years and I have accumulated quite a lot of things. I sheltered them from a friend, and took a minimal set of clothes with me. Now I put my hand in the closet, pull out any two things and put them on. Let local shirts, jackets and suits be worn, and if you are “mzungu” (you can often hear such an appeal on the streets), then you are welcome in slaps, shorts and Vietnamese, because you have money. I regretted not taking warm clothes with me. In any heat in the room is always cold.
A couple of months before the trip I did the vaccinations. In Kenya, yellow fever vaccinations are not required, but are needed in a number of neighboring countries. And although the death rate from this disease is not very high, in the absence of a vaccination certificate, you can run into a fine or soliciting a bribe.
It is necessary to take root for hepatitis, tetanus and dysentery, if this has not been done before. But from the most dangerous disease - malaria - vaccinations do not exist. There are only preventive drugs. Russian migrants think that the best prevention is strong alcohol, but doctors disagree with them.
I spent a lot of time searching for an insurance company. But in the end I did not take out insurance - I decided to be fearless. In fact, I just could not find an insurance company with a good representation in Kenya. If she does not have a sane partner clinic, then you can run into a place with a shaman and a voodoo wizard. By the way, a couple of times I saw crucified pupae on the ground - probably this is their work. It is better to pay in cash and get to the clinic where whites, Indians and Chinese go.
Photo from the personal archive of Mikhail Lyapin
Life in Africa
I have never been to Africa before the move. Even in Europe at that time he visited only once. When I came here, it felt like I got into a time machine. I remember how in 12 years I walked around the working district of Murmansk - it was important to look around and watch what was happening. Here is the same. I always wear comfortable shoes because I know that I may have to run away from someone. The first month I never left the house after the 19 watch, like the hero of Will Smith from I Am Legend.
There are rich areas for white people, where apartments are more expensive than in Moscow. I live in a simpler area, but this is not a cesspool or slums. It is safe here, everything is fenced with barbed wire fences, several guards with automatic rifles walk around the clock.
At the same time I know where you can run into trouble - it is not so far from my house, just two kilometers away. In the slums, the white man alone is better not to appear.
The apartment, which I am now renting, found on the recommendations. At first he wrote in “VKontakte” to several Russians who live in Nairobi. Here they work either as hired managers in large western companies, or in a local UN branch office, or in a Russian embassy.
Finally, there are Russians who have a business here - a travel agency, a restaurant, a casino, sports betting or an advertising agency. One of the local guys was very friendly and told him what to do in the first few days after his arrival: where to get a taxi, a sim card and a local mobile wallet (bank cards are not very popular here). He also helped with the search for an apartment.
I pay for apartment format two bedroom (kitchen with living room and two more rooms) about 50 thousand rubles. Unusually, cleaning is included in the rental price. Almost all whites in Africa have a cleaner, and if they live in a private house, then they also have a gardener. In the complex where I live, there is a swimming pool and a fitness room, which is also included in the price.
But the Internet needs to be connected separately. It is expensive (about 3 thousand rubles per month) and of poor quality - with constant breaks and poor technical support.
Photo from the personal archive of Mikhail Lyapin
Practically the only option for me to move is an order. Uber. A trip from one end of the city to the other costs 150 – 200 rubles.
In Nairobi, there are also unofficial taxis, whose drivers periodically rob people. Among the locals, matutas - minibuses where the crowd is crowded are popular. There are also motorcycle taxis: you can sit behind the driver’s back, hug him around the waist and drive around traffic jams.
The average bill in a restaurant is 1 000 – 1 200 rubles. I think this percent on 30 is cheaper than in Moscow. Many Indian establishments and cafes such as "Chocolate Girl" and "Coffee House" - food for C grade, but for the meeting will come down. With local you can sit in the eatery with a simple atmosphere and food for three pennies. Unsanitary conditions reign everywhere: you cannot relax because you have to constantly check what you eat and drink from. Often, food is taken with dirty hands, and food is prepared in the middle of the street.
Meat and poultry in Africa are very expensive: a simple chicken can cost from 700 to 1 200 rubles per kilogram. But in the heat I don’t really want meat, I want more vegetables and fruits. They are delicious and cheap here: more than 150 rubles never go. The only exception is disgusting tomatoes. I already missed Baku.
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Jobs in Africa
It's easy to communicate. Everyone speaks two languages - Swahili and English. Kenyan English is unusual. Here the words are spoken softly, quietly, as if meowing. The first time I did not understand, I had to lean closer to the interlocutor. Now used to.
All you need if you want to do business in Kenya is a registered office, a license for a credit business, a bank account, a work permit. And it is also necessary to explain to the local central bank that your money is transparent and did not come from selling drugs or trading in embryos. It sounds easy, but the procedure itself is very long. In Russia, all terms are known. Immediately the process is very opaque - it can go both 2 weeks and 8 months. And if someone in Kenya says: “Dude, I’ll do it in 2 weeks” - most likely, he is cunning. It is impossible to predict even how long it will be possible to conclude an agreement for the rental of an office.
According to my friends, Kenya is a corrupt country, but I also did not pay a shilling as a bribe.
Apparently, the system itself is not corrupt, but you can get into a situation where you were stopped by guys with machine guns in military uniform and they say: “Oh, you are“ mzingu ”. In general, you cannot walk here, but 200 euro - and you are free. ” Almost everywhere there is a portrait of the local president in camouflage. A picture of Putin with a bare-chested and camouflage pants is the reason why he is considered a strong leader. Military and brute force here are very respected.
They ask me if we are afraid of local gangsters. There is a threat that sooner or later they will come to our company. I think, as in Russia, and in any other country in the world. But if people came to squeeze the online business, they just have nothing to steal.
If the local sees "mzingu", it always hopes to weld on it. Tourist price of the service can be three times higher than usual. And this applies to everything. You also need to be prepared for the fact that you throw. Of course, it is better to find a trusted person, but with recommendations tight. There is an anecdote about two hells - Jewish and Russian - where in one they help each other, and in the second they drag one leg down, saying: “What, do you need the most?”. It is not necessary to count on the help of Russian migrants in business, therefore it is better to hold meetings with local ones yourself.
Photo from the personal archive of Mikhail Lyapin
For a start, I needed a lawyer. Of the Kenyan 80 specialists, with whom I began to communicate six months ago, there were two people left to deal with. All the others called a very high price - they could ask 150 thousands of dollars, although it costs only a thousand. However, they often do not understand simple things in the legislation. They are constantly late for all personal meetings - from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. In general, a person may not come to a meeting for the first time, be late for 40 minutes a second time, and then make an offer at 100 times more expensive than the average for the market. But here you can meet the head of the Central Bank in a cafe, swimming pool or in a rocking chair. Try in Russia to meet with Elvira Nabiullina Sakhipzadovnaya or get in touch with German Oskarovich Gref. This is unreal.
There is no such clan structure as in India, but there is a tribal structure. When a Russian watches the Olympics and there a Korean with Russian citizenship wins, he rejoices.
When a local watches TV and sees that the Kenyan is winning, he sees not a Kenyan, but a representative of one of the 40 tribes. And if it's not his man, he will just turn off the TV.
Tribes have historical prerequisites for engaging in some kind of activity: some entrepreneurs, others - the creative intelligentsia, and still others own the land. It is always easier for them to negotiate something with a person from their tribe. Startup Popular in Nairobi Maramoja - analogue Uber, but as a passenger you can choose a person from your tribe. Although such attachments at work with "mzungu" are not reflected.
Photo from the personal archive of Mikhail Lyapin
Plans
We have invested in a business in Africa 1,5 million rubles. The main costs are legal legalization. We pay for office 600 dollars, for communication - 200. This year we plan to hire 30 local workers in call document- the center, which will be responsible for all African countries, where we will start to grow.
Average employee salary call document- The center here is on the order of 140 dollars, but we will pay a little higher. I have already scheduled several interviews.
I think that after starting a business, many processes can be managed remotely or you can bring Russian managers here who will work for a share or for wages. Although there are excellent experts on site. One of our best employees is Kenyan. I am going to live between Moscow and Nairobi. I can not say that I want to get out of here as soon as possible, cling my lips to the birch and eat some brawn. It's delicious and warm. I like.
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