Diana Kalekye: How former Club Tribeka waitress started multi-million tour company from tips
The life of Diana Kalekye is one of rising from mud to grace.
Schon Kenya Tours and Safari, owned by Kalekye, manages inbound and outgoing activities for both domestic and foreign travelers globally, according to the company’s website.
The diligent woman started the business by putting aside “tips” while working as a supervisor at Club Tribeka.
The stunning woman was employed by a nearby tour operator as a salesperson and reservations agent.
She did, however, lose her employment in 2016 when the ownership of the business changed.
“I sat at my desk, shocked and confused, and I cried. I later proceeded to a local joint in town for a few drinks before heading home,” she told Daily Nation.
After losing her valued job, she was depressed and started drinking to drown her sorrows.
She started frequenting Club Tribeka and indulged in drinking sprees using the little savings she had.
Employment at Club Tribeka
Kalekye interacted with the manager several times as a regular customer at the club.
She was lucky to secure a job as a supervisor after they chatted.
“The general manager then, Doreen, had marked me and would always say hello. One day, we chatted, and she said she was looking for a supervisor. I quickly accepted the job,” she narrated.
Despite being a supervisor, she earned a meagre salary of KSh 10,000 monthly.
Schon Kenya Tours and Safari
The new job came with its challenges, and that’s when she decided to start saving so that she could start her own business.
She could earn up to KSh 3,000 daily from customers’ tips. She saved the money for two months.
“The salary was KSh 10,000. The tips went a long way in helping me as I would take home KSh 1000 to KSh 3,000 a day. I saved most of it for two months, and it was enough to start my own company and website,” she disclosed.
The second in a family of three became an orphan in 2017 after losing her mum. Her dad had died earlier.
With a background in hospitality and tourism, she established Schon Kenya Tours and Safari.
By 2019, the business had picked up and won the Luxury Travel Guide (LTG) award.
It was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic but picked up after local and international travel bans were lifted.
In 2021, Schon Kenya Tours and Safari was named the best safari tour operator in Kenya in the International Travel Awards.
