Ann Kiarie of Seattle, WA, is founding the Diaspora University Town (DUT) clothing MSME. The clothing wear plan is integrated into the DUT plan. The starting plan involves an investment of approximately $480,000 (Ksh 60 million). The amount will be used to build the Clothing MSME facilities at DUT, purchase approximately 100 sewing machines and other products used in the clothing-making process, and fund other related expenses. Anne, who has experience in the clothing sector, is delighted and is calling other Diaspora Kenyans to join her through the message, “Invest in a machine to create two jobs.”
The clothing company that will build its facilities on two plots of the 3,778 DUT plots will produce clothing for Diaspora University Town workers and students, Hospital medical personnel, DUT Construction and MSME workers, casual and professional wear for town residents, and other clothing items.
Dan Kamau, the DUT Project Director, when thanking Ann, whom he came to know after she joined in 2015, said, “The first year orders of clothing wear by DUT-Town departments and MSMEs setting up at DUT will be over 20,000 units. Another 5,000 units will be branded Diaspora University clothing wear. The MSME can produce 30,000 units in the first year, and all units will be sold in the DUT plan.”
Anne says the next stage is to expand the clothing units and product lines produced. By 2030, the company's DUT production facility goal is to reach a production of 250,000 units of clothing wear per year, which includes School Uniforms, Hospital Gowns, Nurses' Scrubs, doctors' coats, men's and women's casual wear and suits, children's wear, baby clothes, Kitenge wear, and other clothing products.
DUT Clothing MSME will create approximately 300 jobs for tailors and support staff at the DUT site. Anne is happy to kick off this opportunity for Kenyans. She believes that with hard work, Kenyans can afford to wear new clothes rather than second-hand ones. Estimates suggest that the sales of second-hand clothing in Kenya exceed Ksh 100 billion annually. Anne’s target is to achieve a Ksh 1 billion revenue company in less than 10 years.
Diaspora University will work in close collaboration with the MSME. The university will support the MSME by training its staff. The University will also play a role in growing the Companies' market, revenue, and profit through the project-based learning center education system.
