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King Kaka recalls losing his first hustle at City Stadium and finding new opportunity
17th September, 2026 11:39 AM
Kenyan rapper King Kaka has recalled how the demolition of City Stadium affected his first business hustle and eventually pushed him towards a new opportunity in Nairobi.
King Kaka said he used to operate a small kiosk at City Stadium where he sold ladies’ clothes sourced from Gikomba while he was still a high school fresher.
“Mimi nilikuwa na kibanda, na I wa selling ladies’ clothes kutoka Gikomba. I was fresh out of high school. That was my number one hustle,” he recalled.
He said his business was affected when the kiosks at City Stadium were demolished, leaving him and other young entrepreneurs wondering what to do next.
According to King Kaka, the demolition meant that the businesses operating at the stadium had to leave, with traders being directed to another market.
“Amevunja vibanda zote za City Stadium, na akasema, ‘mimi nimejenga soko pale Muthurwa. Endeni huko.’ So whoever has businesses hapa, hiyo mambo yenyu, huko imeisha,” he narrated.
He said losing the business was frustrating at the time, but looking back, he sees the experience differently.
From losing a kiosk to printing business
After his kiosk was demolished, King Kaka said he went to Nairobi’s city centre to figure out how he could make money.
“One day nilienda town, nikajuliza, how do I make a living? Watu hukujanga town kufanya… Nairobi has come into the city, kutafuta doh, right? Nikajuliza hii doh watu huitoa wapi?” he asked.
His first stop was Afya Centre, where he observed businesses selling services such as photocopying.
While standing outside, he approached a man selling business cards and began learning about the trade. He discovered that cards could cost about five shillings each when bought individually, while bulk purchases could bring the price down to three or even two shillings.
As he was learning, another man approached, looking for someone who could make business cards.
King Kaka saw the opportunity and offered to help.
“This guy gives me business. Long story short, I ended up making two thousand bob from huyu msee, profit,” he recalled.
He said he then began working with other people to fulfil orders, eventually making about two shillings profit on each card.
Misfortune is a blessing
King Kaka said the experience eventually led him into printing, and a year or two later, he had a shop at Menti House and was doing printing business along River Road.
Reflecting on the journey, he said losing his first business taught him an important lesson about entrepreneurship.
“Misfortune is a blessing. Sometimes tunakuwa tuko stuck on biashara, business, mpaka unapata kuifunga,” he said.
He advised entrepreneurs not to fear trying new things, adding that when a business fails, the skills gained from it can be carried into the next venture.
“Niliambiwa rules ya biashara, usiwahi ogopa. Try as much as you can; ikikata, close it, and go to the next. But use that skill ama kenye umelearn kwa hii kufanya the next,” King Kaka said.
