Gibson Murage is the owner of Modern Furniture Pacific.
Born in Nyeri County and raised in Ndaragwa, Gibson Murage Gitonga grew up in a humble family and faced tough financial struggles from a young age. Due to lack of school fees, he dropped out of school in Form Two.
At just 16 years old, Murage joined a small carpentry course in a place known as Kwa Nduati then was later employed in Ruring’u, Nyeri, earning only Ksh 600. Through honesty, discipline, and hard work, customers began requesting him personally to build their furniture. For five years, he saved every coin and slowly bought carpentry machines one by one.
Then COV!D struck. Murage lost his job when his daughter was only one month old. But instead of giving up, his wife encouraged him to start his own business.
With Ksh 150k and the machines he had saved for years, Murage started Modern Furniture Pacific. On the very first day he displayed his furniture, he sold a full seat set. Soon he employed carpenters, landed a major hotel furnishing tender, and his business exploded.
Today, Murage still under 35, runs one of the country’s thriving furniture companies, employing hundreds of Kenyans and serving clients across Kenya and in the diaspora.
He doesn’t drink or smóke and only hires sober workers, knowing the dangers of the machines in his workshop.
From earning Ksh 600 to building a national furniture brand Murage’s story is proof that discipline, trust, and persistence can change a life.
