Meet Harriet Akinyi, The Owner of Tule Kienyeji Restaurant

January 21, 2026 / ke

If there is one thing Harriet Akinyi has proven, it is that social media, when used right, can act as an avenue for upliftment, and that with determination, hard work, hope, and reliance on God, one can overcome any situation, no matter how neck-deep or hopeless it may seem.

On January 19, 2026, she posted a video of herself in her restaurant on TikTok (@harrie_akin), talking about how frustrated she had been since launching her food business. Launched in October 2025, Harriet Akinyi used all her savings and even borrowed funds to start the restaurant.

With hopes of becoming one of the biggest joints in Nakuru, she employed staff. However, since the launch of the business, she had barely made any sales. At first, she made Ksh 15,000 in sales, then it declined to Ksh 10,000, then to Ksh 2,000. On some days, she sold less than Ksh 1,000 or nothing at all.

Keeping the business running required a steady flow of income. The 28-year-old entrepreneur had already exhausted her savings, and her M-Pesa balance was nearing Ksh 0. She had run out of options. She called friends and anyone she thought could help, but they all turned her down.

Coming from a broken family where everyone fended for themselves, calling home for help was hopeless. She had only one option left, to cry out on social media and pour out her heart.

Her emotional plea was uploaded on TikTok on January 19, and her story touched Kenyans. The rest, as they say, is history.

[https://www.tiktok.com/@harrie_akin/video/7596993580787404044](https://www.tiktok.com/@harrie_akin/video/7596993580787404044)

Kenyans Came to the Rescue

Kenyans around Nakuru and nearby areas quickly located her restaurant, and within hours, they began streaming in.

On the first day of visits by influencers and regular social media users alike, her restaurant was filled to capacity. There was no space and no unoccupied table. For the first time since opening, she sold out her entire stock, and sales continued to pour in.

From making just a few sales a day to making hundreds, Harriet Akinyi has once again proven that with God, anything is possible.