It is said that success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. This has been confirmed to be true in regards to one man whose desire to dare abroad eventually came true.
Moffat Andanji is a husband and a father of four. He grew up in Kakamega county where after completing his studies he began his career in clearing and forwarding. However, he had always dreamt of going abroad to further his career. He tried first to go to USA and the next time, to go to Dubai, but all his efforts then proved futile. Still, he did not give up.
An opportunity came when he discovered that to go to South Africa then was visa free and nearer to home. He relocated to South Africa in 1994.
When he got to South Africa, he worked for the Zambia consolidated copper mines company under their air free department. Later on, he established his own freight company. He had gained enough experience from Kenya and in the first company he worked in while in South Africa. Procet Freight is the name of Moffat’s shipping company located in Johannesburg. He agrees that setting up the business was not an easy task.
“My first salary was my startup capital for the company,” he says. Luckily, the people he got to know helped him settle. Also, his determination could not allow him to stop what he had begun. He explains that he has a motivated group of employees who sum up to around 20 people. The company specializes in Southern, Eastern and Central Africa, a clear indication that the company has grown tremendously. Procet Freight has made many partnerships over the recent past and among them is one with Kenya Airways.
Moffat explains that he has also been faced with a number of challenges such as lack of adequate storage space for the cargo, a drop in business after the festive seasons and even theft and break ins. However, he explains that one has to overcome challenges in order to succeed. For him, it is all about being reminded of where he came from and how he ought to make his people back at home proud.
Lastly, he tells people to do things in relation to that which they went to school for, as it will be an added advantage to them. He also says, people should not remain in their comfort zones rather, do everything it takes to make it!