Born and raised in Nairobi’s Eastlands, a neighbourhood where dreams often seemed confined within the boundaries of Jogoo Road, he defied the odds to carve out a career in business and finance.
Solomon is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Mi Vida Homes, a real estate developer, and doubles as its human capital head.
As a firstborn, he traversed the uncharted waters without a road map or role models. “Growing up, you just did not think there was life past the highway. Everybody ahead of you was in the hood. There were no role models at that time for you to look up to,’’ Solomon says.
‘‘For me, my drive and ambition was to become the first person in my family to go to university through government sponsorship.’’
"I believe in controlling one’s fate and not leaving things to chance."
Despite his initial ambition to pursue IT, he found himself studying Economics and Mathematics at Kenyatta University after completing his Certified Public Secretary (CPS) course at Strathmore University.
Solomon was introduced to business through a high school mentorship programme called Junior Achievement, where professionals volunteered to guide students.
After graduating, he joined the corporate world, starting at PKF East Africa, a financial services firm, and later moving to PwC in Rwanda. These roles exposed him to various industries, from financial services to agriculture, but left him yearning for more.
‘‘These sectors understood how their businesses worked and that triggered me to leave that professional service. As an auditor, you are looking at events that already happened. But as a finance person, you are determining the events that will happen. That is the side I preferred, it’s more fun and creative.’’
Solomon’s big break came when he joined Centum Investments, where he honed his skills in corporate finance. Over six years, he helped raise about $260 million (about Sh33 billion at the current exchange rates) for real estate projects in Kenya and Uganda and he also gained skills in structuring transactions and mobilising capital.
These experiences prepared him for his current role at Mi Vida Homes, where he has been instrumental in scaling operations from a single project to a pipeline of nearly 5,000 units.
As CFO, Solomon wears many hats. He manages the finance and accounting team, ensures smooth operations and works closely with the CEO to shape the company’s strategy.
Capital raising ranks among his top roles where he navigates the complex landscape of convincing investors and banks to trust Mi Vida’s vision. This trust is the cornerstone of the real estate business, especially in off-plan sales.
“Real estate boils down to trust and credibility. Our tagline is simple, on time means on time. That is what we deliver.”
One of his proudest achievements was spearheading the issuance of the first zero-coupon bond by a private company in Kenya during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘‘That was a first of its kind. No one else in this market had ever dared or attempted to do such a transaction and we were able to raise it in the middle of Covid. That was phenomenal, when I look back we showed that if it’s there to believe, you go for it.’’
Outside of work, the pacesetter’s life is equally inspiring. A lifelong athlete, he finds solace in sports, whether it is through cycling, hitting the gym, or his latest passion, golfing. During the pandemic, he cycled nearly 200 kilometres to Salama.
The father of three also has a deep connection to nature, often retreating to his farm in Kajiado, where he has planted more than 1,500 trees. “Planting trees is therapeutic. Growing up I saw my grandmother, she had very many trees, especially fruit trees. That lived with me. I constantly try to make sure I am planting a tree. If I am not planting a fruit tree then it is a tree for shade or a tree for beauty.’’
Solomon signs off: “I believe in controlling one’s fate and not leaving things to chance.”
-Marion Sitawa