Sabrin Abdulkadir opens new restaurant after TikTok fundraiser success

Sabrin Abdulkadir, a 19-year-old entrepreneur from Eastleigh, has made a remarkable leap from selling Somali cereal cuisine by the roadside to owning her own restaurant.

Her success story, made possible through the power of social media, TikTok influencers, and a loyal online community, highlights the new opportunities that platforms like TikTok provide to small business owners.

Hailing from a humble family of eight boys and two girls, Sabrin is the fourthborn. Initially, she worked for others selling similar cuisine, but the need to support her family motivated her to start her own venture.

Before her breakthrough, Sabrin faced numerous challenges. She ran a small food stand by the roadside on Major Kinyanjui Road, where she sold Somali cereal cuisine to passersby and advertised it through her account.

While her food was popular, operating outdoors in Eastleigh was fraught with difficulties. The unpredictable weather in the area often worked against her. When it rained, business would nearly come to a standstill. With no shelter for her customers, they would leave as the rain started, reducing her foot traffic significantly.

Sabrin's hotpots, which kept her dishes warm, would cool down quickly in the rain, making it difficult to serve hot food. On rainy days, only a few people ventured outside, further limiting her customer base.

"I would stand in the rain, trying to salvage what I could," Sabrin shared in an emotional interview with the Eastleigh Voice. "My hotpots would go cold, and there would be almost no customers because people don't like being outside when it rains." This harsh reality forced her to rely on TikTok to reach out to her followers.

She would post videos asking them to come and support her, especially during these tough times when the rain kept most customers indoors.

Dust was another constant challenge, making it difficult to maintain cleanliness while preparing and serving food on the streets.

Adding to these weather-related challenges, Sabrin and other small business owners often dealt with harassment from city askaris, locally known as "Kanjo." These authorities would regularly disrupt her business, making it even harder for her to sustain her roadside operations.

However, despite these obstacles, Sabrin's determination and the support of her family pushed her forward. Undeterred by initial discouragement from friends, she persevered, serving up to 150 plates of her food on a good day, demonstrating the demand for her unique Somali dishes.

19-year-old entrepreneur Sabrin Abdulkadir poses for a photo. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

Her mother was her biggest supporter, always encouraging her to keep going despite the difficult conditions. This familial support, coupled with Sabrin's strong will, kept her business alive during challenging times. She also relied on TikTok, where she had built a loyal following of over 500,000 users.

Her videos showcasing her cooking process and street food offerings gained attention far beyond Eastleigh. One of her videos went viral, racking up over 2.8 million views, 76,000 likes, and nearly 1,000 comments. Many of her followers mentioned that they had either tasted her food or were planning to visit her stand.

Remarkably, Sabrin's audience extended beyond Kenya. People from Europe and America would often comment on her videos, expressing their interest in trying her food. Visitors from these regions who travelled to Nairobi made it a point to stop by and sample her cuisine, highlighting the global appeal of her unique flavours.

The true turning point for Sabrin came when Somali TikTok star Idris Pepe and other influencers took notice of her story. They decided to help her raise funds through TikTok's livestream feature, which allows creators to receive virtual gifts from their followers.

These gifts can be converted into real cash, providing a way for creators to monetise their content. For Sabrin, this was a game changer. During her TikTok live sessions, her followers generously sent her virtual gifts, which she changed into money.

With these funds, Sabrin was able to raise enough money to leave the street and open her own restaurant.

"It took me two months to establish this restaurant. I got the money from TikTok, thanks to Idris Pepe, who helped me raise the funds," Sabrin told Eastleigh Voice.

Her voice trembled with emotion as she recalled her journey. "I never imagined this could happen. I used to struggle so much by the roadside, but now I have my own restaurant. I can't thank my TikTok family enough."

Her new restaurant offers a wide range of Somali dishes, expanding beyond the cereals she initially sold on the roadside. The menu now includes a variety of traditional Somali meals, making her restaurant comparable to others in the area.

Many of her customers are also her TikTok followers, who come to the restaurant to support her and try her food in person.

Sabrin's social media influence continues to play a significant role in driving traffic to her business, and despite having over half a million followers on the platform, she wants to venture into Facebook.