Dennis Makori: Kenyan who made millions from sending love messages

Dennis Makori, an engineer by training, graduated from Moi University in 2003 with a degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering.

Alongside his passion for engineering, Makori also harbored an entrepreneurial spirit, which led him to start a software company while still in his third year of university.

Partnering with his friend Andrew Mbunya, Makori focused on providing services related to communications engineering. Initially, the company, called Onfon Media, brought in a modest income of around Ksh 5,000 to Ksh 10,000 per month.

After completing their studies, Makori and Mbunya decided to expand their company’s services. They aimed to offer a wide range of solutions, including sending bulk messages and providing fee-based inspirational, devotional, and love quotes.

However, obtaining a license from the Communications Authority of Kenya proved to be a hurdle, and they had to wait for over a year before receiving it. During this time, they incurred expenses while not generating any revenue.

Their breakthrough finally came in 2007 when they secured a deal with Safaricom to provide premium content. Makori recalls receiving their first payment of Ksh 44,000 and ending the year with earnings of Ksh 500,000.

By 2012, Onfon Media had amassed over Ksh 400 million in revenues. One of their most successful offerings was premium love messages, with over 150,000 subscribers who paid to receive daily love quotes from their platform.

Makori attributed their first million shillings in revenue to the popularity of their love messages. They had high expectations for the company’s growth, projecting revenues of one billion shillings by 2015.

Dennis Makori’s journey from being an engineering graduate to a successful entrepreneur showcases the power of determination, innovation, and seizing opportunities in the rapidly evolving technology sector.