Some young people wait for opportunities to come. Nicholus created his own. Growing up in Murera village, life often felt uncertain. Educational opportunities were limited, and the challenges at home made it difficult to imagine a future beyond what he saw around him. Like many young people in his community, he could easily have accepted that those circumstances would define his life.
Instead, he chose to believe they wouldn’t. That belief began to take shape in 2017 when Nicholus joined the Moja Tu program. Through the support of his sponsors, he was able to continue his education, but what changed him most was not just the financial support. It was the confidence that someone believed in his potential.
“Joining Moja Tu made me believe my future could be different,” Nicholus says. “For the first time, I felt like my dreams were possible.”
His path was not without setbacks. Repeating a year in high school could have discouraged him, but Nicholus refused to let it become the end of his story. Instead, he treated it as a fresh start. He worked harder than ever before, remained focused, and eventually earned a place at university, something he had never imagined would be possible. University opened more than classroom doors. It opened his mind.
“I realized there were so many opportunities around me,” he says. “I just had to be willing to see them.”
While many students viewed university simply as a place to earn a degree, Nicholus saw it differently. It became a place to learn, to experiment, and to build. Ideas came naturally. Instead of waiting until graduation to pursue them, he decided to begin.
Seeing Opportunity Where Others Saw a Problem
In 2024, while still in his third year at university, Nicholus noticed something many students complained about. Finding decent accommodation around campus was frustrating. Rather than adding his voice to the complaints, he asked himself a simple question: “What if I became part of the solution?”
That question became the foundation of his first business. He began helping fellow students find suitable houses around the university. Slowly, referrals started coming in. Before long, he was helping not only students but also members of the surrounding community find homes. What started as a small side hustle steadily grew into a thriving real estate business.
“It taught me that I didn’t have to wait until I graduated to start building my future,” he says.
Balancing lectures, assignments, and clients was demanding, but Nicholus remained disciplined. His education always came first.
Learning More Than Business
One of the people who had a lasting influence on Nicholus was his sponsor and mentor, Kathy Kempff. She encouraged him to think beyond immediate challenges and taught him practical lessons that continue to shape his life today. “She taught me how to plan my time, stay organized, and think long term,” Nicholus says. “Those lessons have helped me far beyond business.”
Like every entrepreneur, he encountered obstacles. One challenge seemed surprisingly simple but had a huge impact on his work. He needed a better phone. His business depended on taking quality photos of properties, marketing them online, and communicating with clients. Without a reliable phone, every task became more difficult. Many people would have waited until they could afford one. Nicholus chose another path.
He borrowed a friend’s phone whenever he needed it and kept serving his clients. When he later shared the challenge with Kathy, she did not immediately offer to solve the problem. Instead, she celebrated something more important. She celebrated his initiative. Rather than focusing on what he lacked, she encouraged him to save consistently toward buying the phone himself. She then promised to match whatever amount he managed to save.
“It wasn’t really about the phone,” Nicholus reflects. “It was about learning discipline and realizing that if I was willing to invest in myself, others would also be willing to invest in me.” That lesson stayed with him.
Taking the First Step
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Nicholus is that he never waited for someone else to build his future. Whenever he wanted to grow his business, he asked questions. Whenever he faced a challenge, he looked for solutions. Whenever he needed guidance, he sought advice. His mentors were always ready to support him, but he was always willing to take the first step. That mindset continues to shape everything he does.
Today, Nicholus is not only completing his university education but also running a successful real estate business. The income has enabled him to support his younger siblings, meet his own needs, save consistently, and invest in a second venture, Urban Cleaners. His clients trust him because of one quality above all else. Honesty.
“I believe people come back because they know I’ll always tell them the truth,” he says. “Trust is more valuable than making a quick sale.”
Looking ahead, Nicholus dreams of building several businesses that create employment opportunities for other young people. For him, success has never been only about earning an income. It is about creating opportunities for others. His advice to fellow young people is refreshingly simple.
“Take initiative. Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Start with what you have, learn as you go, and keep moving.”