KIRAN Shah famously known as “Kiru” has been in the country’stransport and logistics industry for decades, running Swan Carriers Limited, afamily-owned transport company which operates in Kenya and beyond borders,serving key sectors of the economy. He has also over the years played aninstrumental role in disaster response across Kenya.
He has transformed hisbusiness into a vehicle for national service. At great personal and financialcommitment, he has transported relief food, medical supplies and essentialgoods entirely free of charge to regions facing famine, drought, floods, andother emergencies.
His compassion and enduring service to the nation andcommunity saw him conferred with the prestigious Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (E.B.S) during the recent Jamhuri Day cellebrations by PresidentWilliam Ruto. The Star spoke to Kiru on his personal journey, business andservice to community.
Who isKiran “Kiru” Shah, where was he born, education and his beginnings in business?
I wasborn in Kisumu in 1959. Our family has been in existence in Kisumu for the last90 years. I went to Aga Khan Primary School then Kisumu Boys and after my basicO-Levels, I found my way to the UK. My dad sent me to study but I didn’t studyand instead, I started working. I opened a small grocery shop with a partnerfrom the UK. After two years, I was called back home, there was a lot of workwithin the family businesses. My father had four siblings so it was a largebusiness and we were all involved. That time we were into confectionary,milling and also transport. As our family grew bigger, we started goingdifferent ways and eventually now me and my two boys. I shifted to Nairobi in1985. I wasthe first one to move to the capital and since then I have settled in Nairobibut i still have a home in Kisumu.
Tellus about Swan Carriers? When and how did start?
Swan Carriers Ltd is a logistics and transport solutions companydedicated to providing reliable, efficient and customer-focused services. We specialisein the movement ofgoods across diverse sectors, ensuring timely delivery and operationalexcellence. Our business is built on strong values of integrity, innovation andsustainability and we pride ourselves on being a trusted partner to both local andregional clients. It was started in 1980 with three small trucks, 10-tonnecanters. Today, Swan Carriers has 240 trucks majority of them trailers and hascreated more than 436 direct jobs and hundreds of indirect jobs. Theheadquarters shifted to Athi River from Kisumu.
Whatare some of the challenges you faced during the early stages of Swan and today?
Before there were no challenges. Drivers were good, people werehonest, and roads were not congested so business was flowing and the turnaroundwas quick. Today as we speak, there are lots of challenges. The traffic on theroads, competition, people want to become millionaires overnight. Along thecorridors we get challenges at the borders, for instance there is 18 kilometerline at the Malaba border because systems are not working properly so clearanceand crossing becomes a challenge. These delays add to operating costs. We weredoing up to five trips a month now were are down to two to three trips. Thereare non-tariff barriers along the corridors which are a challenge. If we wereto follow the law and put into good use the infrastructure and technology wehave, hopefully things will be better.
Howwould you describe your leadership style and what drives you?
Approachable, listening and patience. As a transporter, you haveto be patient and someone who listens. If you are a hot tempered person thentransport is not good business for you.
How doyou balance family and running a successful business?
I have two boys and they all are into the business, both thewives are working, grandchildren. We have our day-offs where we just spend timetogether especially Sundays is just family, we sit, have food together and justrelax.
Do youhave any family values that you have incorporated into the business?
Yes. Honesty is the first one. Whatever you do, do it withhonesty. Respect is another thing and then dignity.
IsSwan Carriers exploring any new technologies to improve operations?
Yes. We are looking into Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the nearfuture. We have and continue to automate our systems for smooth operations andother changes.
Whatdoes it take to build a strong family-owned business?
First of all is trust. Then cooperation within the family andprofessionalism. Family life should be separated from the business and have acontinuity plan. The business should operate within a constitution then therewill be no ‘matata’ (worries).
Wheredo you see Swan in the next five to ten years and probably as Kiru, what legacydo you want to leave behind?
Well, I would not say I want to become a number one transporter,but an efficient transporter with good values. In the year 2030, our milestone,Swan Carriers will be 50 years old. That obviously we want to see, we want tosee Swan Carriers become a strong regional transporter. We want to become amultinational covering the East African region, theSouthern African Development Community (SADC) and beyond. That is ourvision.
Congratulationson the Elder of the Order of theBurning Spear (E.B.S) award. How does it feel and probably, whatdoes it mean for you?
Inever thought I would be recognised. It came as a surprise. When I got a callthat I will be part of the team going to State House for the awards, I stillcould not believe and neither did I know what I was getting. When my name wascalled and I started walking towards His Excellency the President, my citationstarted being read then I heard E.B.S and that shocked me. I was expectingmaybe a Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (M.B.S.). I felt I was in adifferent world but ofcourse I was before the President so I behaved properly.But the joy, I can’t explain. You know, at that time I wanted my phone to startsharing but the phones had been taken. People who were watching on TV tookvideos later and later on started posting. I don’t have words to tell you what it means, but it meanseverything to me. Because the work, at least somebody recognised what we havedone. Apart from being in the transport business, the community is at the coreheart of our existence. Our contributions span humanitarian relief, publicsafety and organised community leadership. We have always transported relieffood, medical supplies and essential goods free of charge to regions facingfamine, drought, floods and other emergencies. We also mobilise resources whichwe ensure reach those in marginalised areas. For instance we recently broughttogether children living with Cerebral Palsy from Machakos County and had a Christmas party withthem, gave out wheelchairs, transport. But all these things I don’t do them forfame, just making sure that we try and build a society where everybody feelsappreciated.
Whatmotivated you to engage in philanthropic work in Kenya?
Giving back to the communityis important. I have been fortunate and it is my way of contributing to Kenya’sgrowth and helping those in need.
Youare the Vice Chairman of the Visa Oshwal Community. Tell us aboutit?
The community is over 100years in Kenya and our headquarters is at the Oshwal Centre in Nairobi.We havearound 8,000 members, it is a clan and I am privileged to be the vice chair fortwo years now. Our basic philosophy is Jainism. This is an ancient Indianreligion focused on spiritual purity, liberation and non-violence teaching that all living beings have a soul anddeserve compassion, leading to strict vegetarianism and gentle living practices.We are 100 per cent vegetarian. We value others well-being. Cultural heritageis there, the Indian culture, the Shah cultural heritage, all is there. Wefoster unity.
Tell us about the neighbourhoodinitiative?
It is based under Gigiri Police Station and helps all inneed. The primary focus is on community safety and security. Wework with the security organs and the community to ensure safety and well-beingof everyone.
Whatwould you say is one of the most rewarding parts of your career?
Service to community. The business will be there because othersare looking after it but service to humanity is the most rewarding thing to me.
Whoare your role models growing up, what did you learn from them and how did youapply that into the business?
Okay, first role model is my parents, obviously. But if youlook, Manu Chandaria, he has done quite a lot of philanthropic work. There arealso many others doing things unannounced.
As anindividual, how do you maintain the personal motivation, especially when youare faced with challenges, how do you stay calm?
We have a lot of problems in the community, the normal problems.As a leader when you listen to those problems, you feel that yours are nothingand the best thing is patience. You become a listener. Do not act withoutlistening. It helps remaining calm.
How doyou unwind after a long day of running a busy company?
My daystarts at 6am. I have meetings at the Visa Oshwal Community after office hoursthen in the evenings, I am home by 6.30. I unwind the day by reading newspaperswhat was most interesting in the newspapers and catching up with what is goingon in the world from news to sports.
Whatis your mantra?
IfKiru can do it, why not others?
Anyparting shot?
Just to say Merry Christmas tothe Christians and Happy New Year to all and as a transporter whose vehiclesare all over the roads, please exercise caution while on roads. Drive safe. Don’tdrink and drive. Life is very precious please save your life from the roadcarnage.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
