The work culture is slowly shifting, and it’s not what it was a decade ago. With internet connectivity and a smart device, work can be done anywhere, slowly pushing the conventional 9-5 work culture out of relevance. It came as a surprise when this kind of work culture opportunity moved closer home to Eldoret Town, as Kikao64.
A little bit of background information here.
For many people, Eldoret is a slow town. Many years ago, someone I used to know referred to it as “a village with big shops.” Those words hurt me deep in my soul (Eldoret is my home). Popularly known as the city of champions, Eldoret is a laid-back agricultural town approximately 322 km from Nairobi, Kenya.
Initially established as a settler’s farm, “Farm 64” or “Sisibo” to the locals, Eldoret town has slowly and steadily grown into a commercial hub in the Northrift region, connecting the west and the north to agribusiness, universities, and thriving art, and athletic-sports culture district. It’s no surprise organizations like Kikao64 are taking a worthwhile leap to pioneer innovative working spaces in the region.
Let me be honest: my visit to Kikao64 was partially emotionally driven. See, I have been part of the gig industry for close to 8 years, and coincidentally, it all began in Eldoret Town. So, what was my first impression? Well, I’d hate to be casual about this, but it was mind-blowing! There’s definitely something here for the growing digital nomad/work-from-home community in Eldoret and its environs. What’s more interesting is that they source all their material from local enterprises like Unity Makers.
Kikao64 owners went full throttle with this one. For starters, it’s impossible to ignore its distinctive architecture, serene working environment, simplistic eco-sophisticated designed spaces, and the innovative ideas behind its co-working arrangements. With woody tones and tribal art, a Google-like feel hypothetically puts one foot in San Francisco and the other deep in the African Savana underneath an Acacia tree. It’s nothing you will find anywhere in the country – more like iconic new-age ideas stirred in a pot of brilliance.
So, what’s Kikao64 all about?
I had a lengthy chat with their community manager, who filled me in on the details. In a nutshell, Kikao64 is a hybrid co-working space. It was developed to provide startups, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and students with conducive working spaces and the chance to meet like-minded individuals. It also offers access to investors, industry experts, legal, tax, accounting, and grant opportunities with companies such as Advance Consulting, which are provided free to members.
The founders chose Eldoret town in response to its growing community of digital nomads, university students, freelancers, and digital creatives who lacked a space to explore their skills. One of its founders, who has a background in education and history in the region, felt Kikao64 has an opportunity to nurture innovative ideas, readership, research, advanced tech, and informational communities to spur growth and breed a new crop of talent from the Northrift region.
What resources do they offer?
Apart from enjoying free Wi-Fi, serene working spaces, and an opportunity to meet, greet, and mingle with innovative minds, Kikao64 has a bookshop, library, café, multi-faceted working and meeting spaces, and facilities for small groups, individuals, and corporations. The spaces are segmented based on user experience, a section for everyone. It’s more than your conventional innovative hub or playful workplace library.
Hot Desks: Kikao64 offers hot desks dedicated to on-demand access to their shared spaces, with provisions for Wi-Fi, charging docks, desk lamps, and standing desk facilities.
Dedicated Desks: With the dedicated desk subscription, members can access the common areas, Wi-Fi, printing, and parking. This subscription also offers four hours of meeting access in dedicated conference rooms and facilities.
Meeting Rooms: Ideal for four individuals but with provisions up to 8, this space is convenient for small meetings and is equipped with HDMI cables, Flip charts, printing services, and whiteboards.
Private/Lettable offices: are ideal for individuals looking for a dedicated area to focus and work with small teams. These sections are furnished (complete with shelves, three desks, and a whiteboard), soundproofed, and draped for privacy.
Outdoor lounge: Perhaps my favorite spot, this is great for innovative conversations, mini-events, and talks. It’s furnished with eco-friendly recycled wood, an organic garden, and calm, mellow, outdoorsy vibes, perfect for yoga, meditation, casual meetups, and brainstorming innovative ideas.
Kikao64 Perks for Northrift Innovators
Kikao64 has set up monthly Fireside chats (TED talks) events for entrepreneurs, students, and creatives to share, brainstorm, and breed ideas. These monthly sessions will feature guest speakers from leading key industries who will engage members in worthwhile transformative and educative discussions.
Members can access free literature from an in-house library in various genres, including African literature, DIY, fiction, and non-fiction books. They also get access to printing services, a modern café, and soundproofed talk booths for long phone calls (a wholesome experience).
Kikao64 offers fast, reliable, uninterrupted Wi-Fi and power for members looking to work long hours on dedicated projects.
Pros
- In minimalistic architectural design, a lot of effort was taken to create an atmosphere that champions innovation, focus, and creativity.
- Fast, reliable internet speeds are ideal for research, presentations, conferencing, and events.
- Motivated, helpful, and informed staff.
- Free legal, accounting, tax, and grant opportunities for members.
- One hundred working spaces that are clean and pandemic friendly, segmented for different working styles.
- Eco-friendly, quiet, serene spaces with indoor and outdoor spaces ideal for focus.
- State-of-the-art workstations and, more importantly, standing desk provisions.
- A wide variety of literature from the library
- Access point for investors, young professionals, and entrepreneurs.
- Promotes local enterprises.
Cons
- It might be a little pricey for young professionals, local entrepreneurs, startups with tight budgets, students, and novice freelancers.
My Take
There’s no doubt that Kikao64 offers a unique working, innovative meetup atmosphere in a region that’s been technologically marginalized. It’s an innovation hub I’ll keep frequenting and has more perks, especially for a gig-culture professional like myself. Eldoret is ripe with creatives and digital innovators who can benefit from access to grants and free legal, accounting, and tax services Kikao64 offers to members through collaboration with its partners.
N/B: This is not a paid review. All data presented in the article was collected personally by the author.