Abdul Wamala Bakari moved from Funyula in Busia County to establish the largest and first supermarket in Lodwar town as well as the first bookshop in the area.
In an interview with Chams Media's Daring Abroad on Saturday, March 25, Bakari narrated that he worked as a distributor, who travelled to various parts of the country supplying books to various schools.
When he went traversed Lodwar however, he realised that there was no bookshop in the area aside from a catholic church bookshop that sold religious books.
Bakari decided to move from Busia and established a bookshop in the area in 2000 that provided educational books, leaving behind his previous job and starting a new life in the town.
“I visited many parts of this county supplying books to schools from Kapedo to Lokichogio and I realised that there was no bookshop in this county.
“I found this county without a single bookshop. The only bookshop we had was in the catholic diocese of Lodwar and it would sell mainly religious books,” stated Bakari.
In 2010, Bakari decided to take an even bigger risk and started the first-ever supermarket Lodwar naming it ‘Kakumatt’.
The supermarket became a one-stop shop for residents and tourists gradually increasing the demand for the products.
As the demand continued to grow, Bakari started another branch of the supermarket in 2017 which was the biggest supermarket in Lodwar town.
“We get our products from Nairobi and Kitale. After our purchase, we have a store in Nairobi where the products are delivered.
“After collection, our truck picks them up from Nairobi to Lodwar. For the supplies from Kitale, we pick them up with the truck and bring them to the supermarket,” explained Bakari.
Bakari’s businesses transformed the town and are credited as part of the reasons for the continued growth and development of the town.
He had since built a mansionette in the area and was nicknamed 'Kakumatt' after his supermarket.
