Meru groups gain from investment education

Most of the small business owners are not aware of investment opportunities, investment experts have said.

Speaking during an investment education meeting for boda boda operators, young entrepreneurial women, and other small-scale business people in Meru Town, senior officials of ArvoCap Asset Managers presented an array of investment opportunities available for them.

ArvoCap founder and CEO Monica Mwaniki and others conducted an educational session for the groups on the numerous investment opportunities available for the businesses to diversify their incomes and grow their ventures.

Ms Mwaniki said the group which is sanctioned by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to provide financial investment services, was aiming to educate the public in Meru on the options available for investment.

He said while some had invested in land purchases and savings in the bank and commercial buildings, there were other profitable investment options.    

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“There are very many other investment opportunities for the people, including government bonds and shares trading in the capital markets,” said Ms Mwaniki.

She encouraged the people to invest in stocks saying it does not necessarily need a lot of cash to start.

She said at a time that many people were facing an unfavorable environment the businesses should stick to a budgeting plan that ensures prudent management of the available resources.

“Budgeting will ensure you can plan where to invest your income.”

She lauded the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) for including business studies at the basic education level.

“This will have a very big impact. They will gain financial literacy, and by the time they grow, they will be greatly empowered,” she said.

Mwaniki urged the youth and other groups earning small profits to embrace investment opportunities.

“You do not need a lot of money to start investing. You start small, with what you have. From Sh1,000 to Sh5,000, and after some years it will grow. I urge the youth to have a long-term mentality in starting small investments and gradually increasing them."

John Kamau, a sales manager at the organisation discouraged the youth not to make unreliable financial decisions which includes misusing the little they have on betting and gambling.

"Many young people want to have overnight wealth. We are telling the youth to start investing in a small way so that they will have something in the future. It will require sacrifice and hard work to gradually grow wealth," said Mr Kamau.

He said the young people in boda boda, jua kali, and others to form an investment group to pool funds to invest.

"I urge them to invest in shares and bonds through authorised asset managers, so that their investments are safe and grow their wealth."    

He said even retired individuals could take advantage of the options available.