Lilian Kemunto, known as Kiki The Lioness, has run a business importing and selling bedding from Canada for 12 years. Her company, Kiki’s Mall, is based in Mombasa and serves East African clients. She started with modest capital and now focuses on high-quality products to fill a market gap.
Lilian Kemunto, known as Kiki or Kiki The Lioness, has operated her bedding business for 12 years. Her company, Kiki’s Mall, is located in Mombasa and imports products from Canada to sell to East African customers. She began with small capital, reinvesting profits to grow the venture.
Kemunto travels to factories to verify quality. She identified a gap in Kenya's market for durable, high-quality bedding. “I believe everyone needs good sleep. Since bedding is used daily at home, in hotels, hospitals, and schools, I saw a unique opportunity to offer better products to improve comfort. Kenya had few quality, long-lasting, well-made bedding options—so I decided to fill that gap,” she says.
Initially, she imported second-hand items, but now sources new factory-made products that emphasize style and interior matching. The ordering process takes 3-5 months, with her making two trips: one to place orders and another during production to prevent shipping issues.
Challenges include high import duties, USD-KES exchange fluctuations, shipping costs, and delivery delays. Yet, these motivate her further. Her clients are retailers, hotels, and homeowners, reached via social media like Facebook (Kiki’s Mall), Instagram, WhatsApp Business, and TikTok, where she posts daily photos, videos, and customer testimonials.
Prices start at Sh26,000 for duvet sets (10 sets), Sh30,000 for stylish sheet packs (20 pairs), and Sh49,000 for duvet covers (20 sets, each with two sheets and four pillowcases). She also imports from China, beauty items from the US, furniture, and shoes. She employs four in the bedding department and 20 more during deliveries. She plans nationwide branches and advises aspiring entrepreneurs to start with whatever capital they have.