Rachel Muthoni is one woman to watch.
Although she told me that she studied biomedical science and technology at Egerton University, she is passionate about books.
Today, Racheal has a full time job but she is keen on selling books. What's more, she delivers them to the readers for a modest fee, so they do not have to walk to a bookshop to look for the titles they want, saving them time especially if they have busy schedules or they find themselves too far from the nearest bookshop.
Her model is unique because in Nairobi, book sellers hardly give new Kenyan authors a chance to showcase their books even when they are using the consignment (also called sell or return) model. Under this model, the author or publisher leaves copies of his or her publications with a book seller and collects money only after the books are sold. If they are not sold, say within a month or any other agreed period, then the bookseller gives back the books. This comes at no cost to the bookseller, besides stocking the books in their shelves. But Racheal is different.
Together with her husband, Enock Essendi, a computer science graduate from Egerton University, she runs Racheal's Bargain Corner, probably Kenya's only online bookshop.
Her model is very simple. She does not stock the books herself. Instead, she only buys them from publishers or other bookshops (if the publisher is not in a position to sell her the books in time). Then she delivers the books to the customers, whether they are in Kenya or abroad.
What's more, the site offers even used books for as little as Sh200 (just slightly less than $3).
So, next time you are looking for a novel, whether by a Kenyan author or by a foreign writer, you might want to check out her book shop.
For more information, visit their Web site. And while there, you can order a copy of Terrorists of the Aberdare, the novella which won the Wahome Mutahi Literary Prize in 2010 and was runner up for the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature in 2011.
Enjoy
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