- A Nairobi entrepreneur has captured hearts online after revealing she built a beautiful bungalow for her parents using proceeds from her mtumba business
- Emmah Alicia Ambetsa started with just one bale, yet her determination has transformed her family’s story
- She shared a video giving her emotional walk-through of the new home to inspire others to believe in the power of small beginnings
Kakamega county – Businesswoman Emmah Alicia Ambetsa has captured the hearts of many after revealing how her thriving second-hand clothing business enabled her to build a beautiful bungalow for her parents.
Source: Facebook
In a heartfelt video shared on her Facebook page, the Alicia’s Mtumba Bales founder walked viewers through the nearly completed home.
Alicia grew up in humble home
Alicia told TUKO.co.ke that the house, located in Butere, has three bedrooms, one toilet and bathroom, dining room, sitting room, and one kitchen.
She also shared deeply personal photos of her childhood home, a simple mud house that quietly spoke of years marked by limited means but abundant resilience.
“Our old house only had three rooms; one sitting room and two bedrooms,” she started, expressing how the new structure offers more space and ammenities.
It is the backdrop to her journey, one that shaped the spirited entrepreneur’s desire to rewrite her family’s story.
How Alicia changed her family story
She grew visibly emotional as she explained that her family would move into the house as soon as it is habitable, then finish the final touches while already enjoying their new space.
The building’s fresh walls and wide spaces a testament to determination, discipline, and the power of small beginnings.
Despite growing up with modest resources, Alicia set her sights on building something better. Business became her vehicle for change.
Starting with just one mtumba bale, she steadily expanded her venture, reinvesting every coin, learning the ropes, and pushing through moments of uncertainty.
Today, Alicia’s Mtumba Bales has grown into a profitable enterprise that supports not just her immediate family but also creates employment for others.
“I started small, and see how it has grown. That step was important because I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t start,” she reflected, her words echoing the very lesson her life now embodies.
Alicia’s advice to other Kenyans
Alicia hopes her journey will inspire others, especially young people searching for a way out of financial hardship, to see the potential in mtumba business.
To her, it is not merely about selling clothes; it is about seizing opportunity, taking consistent action, and believing that humble beginnings can lead to remarkable transformations.
“Even when things seem to be moving slowly, use my story to be encouraged that there’s hope, and you should not give up,” she urged.
Alicia’s story is yet another reminder that sometimes, it starts with one brave step, one bale, and a heart determined to change the narrative.
Source: Facebook
How Alicia got into mtumba business
In an earlier interview with TUKO.co.ke, Alicia shared her incredible entrepreneurial journey into the now-thriving business.
The young mother disclosed that she started with just KSh 5000 from an IEBC job she did in 2017 after struggling with unemployment.
She started her business while still mourning her mum’s death and the shocks of unemployment, which had plagued her for some time.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
