MK254
JF-Expert Member
- May 11, 2013
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Nakuru Town is taking the lead in rolling out a 24-hour economy with a new round-the-clock hub launched a month ago.
Falcon Centre, the one-stop shop situated along the Nairobi-Kisumu highway and which is open for 24 hours, provides a variety of services to travellers using the highway.
The hub’s director, Mr Mohammed Surraw, said the multimillion enterprise was conceived following the realisation that Nakuru lacked a stop-over point for travellers on the busy highway who need various services, especially during late night hours.
Nakuru is rated among the fastest growing towns in Kenya with most people finding it hard to access the town centre due to congestion resulting from a high population.
“While Nakuru has many travellers’ joints along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway towards Kisumu and Eldoret, I realised essential services were not available and that is the niche I have filled by partnering with other traders,” he said.
The one-stop centre offers a variety of services, among them a filling station, mobile banking, restaurant, booking offices for various bus companies, wheel alignment using modern 3D technology, a pharmacy and a supermarket.
20-YEARS EXPERIENCE
Mr Surraw said his 20 years’ experience in the petroleum industry had opened his mind on the kind of business to set up on the position.
“I have been in the business for more than 20 years [and] I have four other stations in other towns in the country [besides] setting up the one-stop centre along the busy highway,” he said.
He added that the idea of building the centre on the land acquired from the Kenya Railways on a 15-year lease period was informed by the need to serve travellers along the northern corridor owing to its strategic location.
“It took me a period of eight months to put up the structure which now has a carwash, service bay, fuelling station, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, booking offices for several bus companies and retail businesses,” he said.
Mr Surraw said that so far the hub has created job opportunities for more than 100 young people who are working both at the centre and in its outlets.
He called on other investors in Nakuru to emulate the commercial centre and ensure that businesses operate on a 24-hour basis.
STRATEGICALLY PLACED
Mr Surraw added that the business is located at a strategic place which has open parking spaces and helps people avoid the town’s congestion.
“The centre is strategically placed to ensure that those who board or alight from vehicles are safe and can get anything they need without much movement,” he said.
According to Nakuru residents, the business hub is an eye-opener to other investors who wish to take advantage of the strategic location of Nakuru Town in the middle of the Northern corridor.
He said that the centre also eased expenses for the late night travellers who had to find lodging before proceeding with their journey to Nairobi or upcountry.
“At the centre, businessmen who are otherwise forced to book lodgings awaiting traveling to Uganda are now guaranteed of their safety as they wait to board buses to their respective destinations, said Ms Ruth Wambui a Nakuru-based businesswoman.
Already bus companies operating between Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Busia and Kampala have opened new booking offices at the centre.
Nakuru Town rolls out 24-hour hub
Falcon Centre, the one-stop shop situated along the Nairobi-Kisumu highway and which is open for 24 hours, provides a variety of services to travellers using the highway.
The hub’s director, Mr Mohammed Surraw, said the multimillion enterprise was conceived following the realisation that Nakuru lacked a stop-over point for travellers on the busy highway who need various services, especially during late night hours.
Nakuru is rated among the fastest growing towns in Kenya with most people finding it hard to access the town centre due to congestion resulting from a high population.
“While Nakuru has many travellers’ joints along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway towards Kisumu and Eldoret, I realised essential services were not available and that is the niche I have filled by partnering with other traders,” he said.
The one-stop centre offers a variety of services, among them a filling station, mobile banking, restaurant, booking offices for various bus companies, wheel alignment using modern 3D technology, a pharmacy and a supermarket.
20-YEARS EXPERIENCE
Mr Surraw said his 20 years’ experience in the petroleum industry had opened his mind on the kind of business to set up on the position.
“I have been in the business for more than 20 years [and] I have four other stations in other towns in the country [besides] setting up the one-stop centre along the busy highway,” he said.
He added that the idea of building the centre on the land acquired from the Kenya Railways on a 15-year lease period was informed by the need to serve travellers along the northern corridor owing to its strategic location.
“It took me a period of eight months to put up the structure which now has a carwash, service bay, fuelling station, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, booking offices for several bus companies and retail businesses,” he said.
Mr Surraw said that so far the hub has created job opportunities for more than 100 young people who are working both at the centre and in its outlets.
He called on other investors in Nakuru to emulate the commercial centre and ensure that businesses operate on a 24-hour basis.
STRATEGICALLY PLACED
Mr Surraw added that the business is located at a strategic place which has open parking spaces and helps people avoid the town’s congestion.
“The centre is strategically placed to ensure that those who board or alight from vehicles are safe and can get anything they need without much movement,” he said.
According to Nakuru residents, the business hub is an eye-opener to other investors who wish to take advantage of the strategic location of Nakuru Town in the middle of the Northern corridor.
He said that the centre also eased expenses for the late night travellers who had to find lodging before proceeding with their journey to Nairobi or upcountry.
“At the centre, businessmen who are otherwise forced to book lodgings awaiting traveling to Uganda are now guaranteed of their safety as they wait to board buses to their respective destinations, said Ms Ruth Wambui a Nakuru-based businesswoman.
Already bus companies operating between Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Busia and Kampala have opened new booking offices at the centre.
Nakuru Town rolls out 24-hour hub
