A former literature teacher from Nakuru has built a cross-border distillery business in Johannesburg, turning a pandemic-era opportunity into a venture now stocked in four African markets.
Benard Maina spent years exploring different industries before settling on spirits. Back in Kenya, he tried his hand at poultry farming, school management and microfinance.
From Classrooms to Distilleries
He also took part in the early stages of mobile money development in the country, but none of those paths became his defining chapter.
In an interview with Chams Media, Maina disclosed that his move to South Africa changed the trajectory entirely.
After arriving in Johannesburg, he spotted a gap in the spirits market and used approximately KSh 350,000 in seed capital to establish Egoli Distillery.
What started as a local operation has since grown to reach consumers in Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya, marking a significant footprint for a business built from modest beginnings.
Maina’s ambition is clearly regional in scope. He aims to build a manufacturing enterprise capable of serving African consumers across borders, rather than limiting himself to the South African domestic market alone.
Leading the Kenyan Diaspora in South Africa
Beyond his business interests, Maina serves as chair of the Kenya Diaspora in South Africa, a role that places him at the centre of a community spanning agriculture, academia and other specialised professions.
He attributes much of the community’s success in the country to its members’ professionalism, strong work ethic and respect for South African laws.
In his view, these qualities have helped Kenyans carve out a respected place in a competitive environment.
Maina does not shy away from the realities of operating as a foreigner in South Africa, acknowledging the friction that can arise when migrants compete for limited economic opportunities.
Even so, he notes that Kenyan-owned businesses have managed to establish themselves in both established commercial districts and suburban markets, suggesting the community has found room to grow despite those pressures.
