- Eddie and Paul Ndichu lost their father just two months after starting university in Australia, forcing them to find a way to live abroad
- Life was not easy, but they persevered and graduated before returning to Kenya, where they found work in some of the country’s leading banks
- Years later, they left their stable, high-paying jobs to pursue a dream that would ultimately define them and allow them to work together
Eddie and Paul Ndichu did not have a hard time making ends meet when they were growing up.
Source: Instagram
The twins were brought up in a typical middle-class home in Kenya, where their parents were their sole guardians, and the children’s main responsibility was to study and do well in school.
The brothers did just that and finally got the opportunity to continue higher education in Australia.
Tragically, just two months after enrolling in a university abroad, Eddie and Paul lost their father, who was the sole sponsor of their education and livelihood.
How did the Ndichu twins pay school fees while in Australia?
Suddenly, they had to learn how to work in order to pay tuition and cover living expenses abroad.
In an interview with TechCabal, the twins shared that they took part-time and casual jobs to stay in school.
“We had to quickly find a way to live, pay bills, and pay bills. We worked odd jobs to pay school fees. We learned the real value of money the hard way. It wasn’t easy. We cleaned supermarket floors, worked in factories, and got paid about $2 or $3 an hour,” Eddie recalled.
The brothers worked tirelessly and even improved their skills over time. Paul became a security guard, while Eddie served as a bartender, earning $12 to $15 an hour.
“Our mother sent whatever she could, which was amazing, but we knew we had to live,” Eddie added.
Source: Instagram
Making WapiPay’s dream come true
After finishing their studies, the twins returned to Kenya and got jobs in various banks. These tasks, which involved building online and mobile banking channels, helped them discover and develop their entrepreneurial skills.
“When we were studying in Australia, most of our colleagues were from Asia. When we were working at home, we realized that transferring money between Africa and Asia took two to three days and was expensive. We saw a big gap there and decided to investigate it in more detail,” Paul explained.
Although M-Pesa served Kenya domestically, cross-border transfers were still slow and difficult. The brothers envisioned a digital solution that would eliminate physical trips to MoneyGram or Western Union while speeding up the process.
Once the idea was born, Eddie and Paul quit their lucrative jobs and started working on WapiPay, using their savings as start-up capital.
“What drove us was the belief that we were entering a space that no one else had played. I remember our first transaction was very physical, we took money from someone who sent money to China and we had to figure out how to get it there without a bank. It was a hard lesson that made us think, ‘Maybe this isn’t going to be easy,'” Eddie recalled.
Challenges in setting up WapiPay
The twins faced many challenges along the way, but they used each obstacle as a stepping stone. From re-planning, rebuilding, and re-planning, Eddie and Paul worked on every detail to ensure customer satisfaction.
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“The real ‘aha’ moment was getting our first customer. Then the second, third, and fourth. That reassured us. It also forced us to move from a B2C to a B2B system. We were fortunate to learn from large organizations how to build a culture and operating rhythm,” Paul said.
The brothers credit most of their success to being equal and complementing each other at work. They emphasized that strong work ethics, shared values, and operational excellence are important factors that have enabled their businesses to grow and prosper.
Who are the Ambwere twins?
In other news, TUKO.co.ke reported that the sons of billionaire Ibrahim Ambwere have lived a private life despite their family background.
Timothy Mudasia and Nicholas Abwunza entered the corporate world, working hard to establish companies and continue their father’s business legacy.
The brothers emphasized their belief that anyone can achieve their dreams, regardless of background, with the right mindset, discipline, and dedication.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
