How Tuskys chain of supermarkets started

Now a massive retail chain with a “supermarket at every corner”, Tuskys traces its roots to a small grocery shop in Rongai, Nakuru, started in the 1970s.

Tuskys is a wholly Kenyan, privately held company owned by seven children of Joram Kamau, the founder of the business who died in 2002 and used to work for Nakumatt in the 80’s when it was Nakuru Mattresses as a driver.

As a retirement reward for long, loyal and good service, Nakuru Mattresses helped Kamau start a shop called Rongai Self Service in a remote village in Nakuru. This was the first self service store in that village. The old man and his boys worked so hard and out of that, they set up Tusker Mattresses in Nairobi down town, which is today’s Tuskys.

To extend the generosity once extended to him, Mzee Kamau helped his brother and sons set up their own shop by handing over the same Rongai Mattresses when Tuskys grew big. Today, mzee Kamau’s said brother’s empire is called Naivas. They continue their culture by handing the same self service shop to members of the family who are serious about venturing into retail.