Investor finds success in real estate with unique house style
A Meru Oak kitchen, and below, a German kitchen that Foresight Interiors has built. Courtesy
After spending years abroad learning and working, Sam Wanjohi, 31, returned home to invest in an open plan kitchen building concept. Today, the decision he made six years ago has borne him success. He has made a name for himself in the property market. He offers a unique product range that defines how Kenyan families go about their lives indoors.
“I love home and it was a matter of when rather than if I would be back. But for me to get back home, I needed an idea to run with,” he says.
Open plan kitchens designs are American in origin. The design gives a view of the kitchen as food is prepared in the house. Families also have the liberty of eating from the island — a countertop used as a table for quick bites but also separates the cooking area from the dining. The idea around it is to create family unity.
This design is different from the popular British building styles in which kitchens are built as separate rooms. Open plan kitchens make use of space adequately and are cherished by property buyers who have small families.
His achievement, however, has been a journey. He attended St Mary’s and Brookhouse schools in Nairobi before proceeding to Birmingham in the UK where he pursued civil engineering and project management degree and later worked at Ove Arup, a leading civil engineering company.
After three years of building bridges, railways and highways, he made up his mind to start something of his own.
“I have always loved design. I had wanted to become an architect before becoming an engineer. I decided to take up renovation of old houses. I used to renovate them then rent out or at times sell them,” says Wanjohi.
He repaired a number of houses before he decided to return to Kenya.
“During my experience in renovation, I realised that kitchens added value to the houses coupled with creating space. And I enjoyed working on them immensely. I first travelled back in December 2006 and saw the market needed some new blood,” he said.
In January 2007, he returned to the UK and stayed there for three months figuring out an approach. While there, he contacted a few companies that dealt in kitchen doors and eventually took the leap of faith. He bought a few containers and shipped them to Kenya. “I came back around mid-2007 and began building kitchens in September the same year”.
He has been able to build a good clientele base as demand for his products increased over the years. The need for personalised fitting, however, forced him to customise his products. “I soon realised the limitations of using standard imported door sizes because people wanted customisation. I began importing machinery, a piece at a time to get my vision of a factory off the ground,” he says.
His dream came through in 2010 when he moved to his present premises on Ngong Road that accommodate his offices, a factory, a showroom and 130 employees.
He now says that his vision has expanded. “We plan to increase our production capacity. Our factory has become small. We are soon expanding to a property nearby,” he says.
However, his business has not been short of challenges. The first hurdle, he says, came with the brand name — Kitchen Direct.
“The name was limiting. Clients were mistaking our product offering. They would call us for sufurias and crockery but not interiors. We needed something to represent our powerful culture.” To address the issue, he rebranded to Foresight Interiors and introduced cabinetry fittings.
Even in triumph, the soft spoken Wanjohi does not consider himself an achiever.
“I am not successful at all by my standards. I believe our company and myself are on the right path to success and with God’s grace, we will stick to that path.”
For now, he says, he wants to empower others by giving them stable jobs and business opportunities.
Wanjohi’s love of innovation extends further. He says, together with a friend, they have launched an online company whiteknucle.co.ke.
“It’s not a venture for profit though. We want to raise awareness on off-road motorcycling sport among Kenyans.”
He also runs globerobe.com, a venture that deals with travel bookings and other related services.
