Why trust a stranger in Nairobi?
What should you know about OnGround Africa before you trust a stranger in Nairobi with your money, your family or your plans? That is a fair question. We would ask it too.
So this page answers it plainly. Who runs OnGround Africa and what we have done before.
What we will do, what we will not do and why. Everything you need to know about OnGround Africa in one place.
No big claims. Just the facts, so you can decide for yourself.
If you still have questions after reading, send them to us. We would rather answer ten questions now than leave you guessing later.
What should you know about OnGround Africa?
OnGround Africa is your person on the ground in Kenya. We help people and businesses abroad get things done here without flying in.
We go in person. We report back with photos, videos and receipts. We stay with the task until it is finished.
What we help with
- Company registration in Kenya and business setup
- Property inspection in Kenya for plots, homes and building sites
- Kenya documents from abroad such as good conduct certificates and KRA papers
- Supplier verification in Kenya before you pay
- Film fixer in Kenya services for visiting productions
- Errands in Kenya such as gifts, pickups and visits
The common thread is simple. You are far away and something needs doing here.
We do it and prove it.
That is the short version of everything about OnGround Africa.
The founder story about OnGround Africa
OnGround Africa is run by Patrick Maina, based in Nairobi. Patrick is also the founder of Growth Catalyst, a business growth practice that helps companies win more customers online.
Over 8 years, Patrick has delivered more than 870 projects. Those projects earned 452 five star reviews from clients in more than 56 countries.
Most of those clients never met Patrick in person. They trusted him from far away and he delivered. That track record is the most important thing to know about OnGround Africa.
Groundwork for people who are far away
Over the years, clients abroad began asking for more than marketing work. Could Patrick check a supplier or collect a certificate?
Could he help a film crew find a location? The requests kept coming.
He said yes. He produced film scenes in Kibera for an international artist.
He shipped certificates to clients in the US. He ran errands for clients who could not be here.
One client from Ethiopia wrote a review that sums it up. “Patrick does amazing groundwork for those who are remote from Kenya.”
OnGround Africa turns that groundwork into a clear service with clear prices.
The same habits that earned those reviews now run every OnGround Africa task. Answer fast and do what you said.
Show the proof. If you remember one thing about OnGround Africa, remember that.
Why did we start OnGround Africa?
Because the same problem kept coming up. People abroad need things done in Kenya and have nobody reliable to do them.
Family members try to help but they are busy. Friends mean well but forget. Agents take deposits and go quiet.
The result is stress, wasted money and plans that stall. We have heard these stories from Kenyans in the diaspora and from foreign businesses alike.
We started OnGround Africa to be the person who does not disappear. That is the whole idea and the reason behind everything about OnGround Africa.
8 honest facts about OnGround Africa
Trust is earned. Here is how we try to earn it every day.
- A real track record. More than 870 projects and 452 five star reviews over 8 years.
- A written quote first. You see the price before any work starts.
- Proof at every step. Photos, videos and receipts, not just promises.
- One person in charge. You always know who is handling your task.
- Updates in your time zone. On WhatsApp, where you already are.
- Honest limits. We tell you when a task needs someone else.
- No bribes, ever. We follow the proper process even when it is slower.
- Your privacy respected. Your details stay between us and those you approve.
None of these facts about OnGround Africa are slogans. They are habits we check on every task, from a $50 errand to a full film shoot.
If any of these slip, tell us. We would rather hear it and fix it than lose your trust.
How do we work?
Every task, big or small, follows the same simple path.
- You tell us. A WhatsApp message, email or voice note.
- We quote. A clear price and what it covers. You approve.
- We go. In person, with updates as we work.
- We prove it. Photos, videos and receipts at the end.
We follow official processes. Companies go through the Business Registration Service.
Filming needs a licence from the Kenya Film Classification Board. Police clearance certificates come from the DCI.
Following the rules can feel slower. It is also the only way to get a result that lasts.
A document gained the wrong way can be cancelled. A licence skipped can stop a shoot.
We do the legwork around these processes. We never try to skip them. That is a promise worth knowing about OnGround Africa.
What does a normal day look like?
People often ask what a day at OnGround Africa looks like. The honest answer is that no two days are the same.
A morning might start at a government office, following up a certificate. By midday we could be at a building site, filming progress for an owner abroad.
The afternoon might be a cake delivery to a parent in Nairobi. The evening is for updates, so clients abroad wake up to news.
What stays the same every day
- Every task has a checklist agreed with the client
- Every visit ends with photos or video
- Every payment has a receipt
- Every client gets an update before they need to ask
That routine is the quiet engine behind everything about OnGround Africa. It is not glamorous. It works.
What we are not: the honest limits about OnGround Africa
Being clear about what we are not matters just as much.
- We are not lawyers. When a task needs legal work, we bring in a licensed Kenyan advocate. You approve that cost first.
- We are not valuers, surveyors or engineers. We tell you when you need one and can arrange the visit.
- We are not a government office. We help with the legwork, but official decisions are made by the offices themselves.
- We are not a cash courier. We do not carry large sums of money for anyone.
Knowing these limits is part of knowing about OnGround Africa. It keeps you safe and keeps our work honest.
Who do we work with?
Our clients are spread across many countries. What they share is distance from Kenya.
- Kenyans in the diaspora building homes, running businesses or caring for parents
- Foreign founders setting up in East Africa
- Importers checking Kenyan suppliers
- Film crews, artists and producers shooting in Kenya
- Families who need help with papers, gifts and visits
Many of them found us the same way. A friend or colleague told them about OnGround Africa after a task went well. Word of mouth is how small, honest services grow.
Some clients send one task. Others stay with us for years. Either way, they get the same care.
Ask any of them what they say about OnGround Africa. The answer is usually the same. We showed up.
Where does OnGround Africa work?
We are based in Nairobi and most tasks happen in and around the city. That is where most offices, suppliers and clients’ families are.
We also travel to other counties when a task needs it. A plot upcountry, a supplier in another town or a film location by the coast are all possible.
Travel time and costs are always shown in your quote. You know the full picture before we set off.
Our clients are everywhere. The UK, the US, the Gulf, Europe and across Africa. Time zones are part of the job, so we plan updates around yours.
Wherever you are, the idea behind everything about OnGround Africa stays the same. You stay put. We go.
What does it cost?
Our prices are published in USD. Here are a few of the most booked.
| Service | Our fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Errand in Nairobi | From $50 |
| Gift delivery in Nairobi | $60 plus the gift cost |
| Family check in visit | $60 |
| Airport pickup or drop at JKIA | $60 |
| Property inspection visit (Nairobi and nearby) | $120 |
| Supplier verification visit with report (Nairobi area) | $250 |
| Film fixer day rate | $250 per day |
| Company registration support (private limited company) | $900 our fee, plus government and advocate fees |
Outside Nairobi, travel is quoted upfront. Urgent same week service adds 25 percent.
Government charges are passed on at cost with receipts. Our fee is shown separately so you can see both.
Published prices are one more honest fact about OnGround Africa. You know the fee before you ask, which is rare for help from far away.
You get a written quote first. You pay only after you approve the quote.
We think clear pricing is one of the most important things about OnGround Africa. Read the full list on our OnGround Africa pricing page.
Questions about OnGround Africa? Talk to us
The quickest way to learn about OnGround Africa is to send a message. Tell us what you need. We reply with questions or a quote.
- WhatsApp: +254 724 991 531
- Email: patrick@growthcatalyst.co.ke
No pressure and no obligation. Just a straight answer from your person on the ground in Kenya.
Questions people ask
Who runs OnGround Africa?
OnGround Africa is run by Patrick Maina in Nairobi. Patrick also founded Growth Catalyst and has delivered more than 870 projects over 8 years, with 452 five star reviews from clients in more than 56 countries.
Is OnGround Africa a law firm?
No. We are your person on the ground in Kenya. When a task needs legal work, we bring in a licensed Kenyan advocate and agree the cost with you first.
Where is OnGround Africa based?
We are based in Nairobi, Kenya. We also travel to other counties when a task needs it, with travel shown in the quote. No hidden travel costs is one more thing to know about OnGround Africa.
How do I contact OnGround Africa?
Send a WhatsApp message to +254 724 991 531 or email patrick@growthcatalyst.co.ke. Voice notes are welcome. We reply with questions or a written quote. You can ask anything about OnGround Africa.
Why should I trust what I read about OnGround Africa?
Because it comes with proof. Patrick has 452 five star reviews from clients in more than 56 countries. Every task we do comes with photos and receipts. Start with a small task and judge for yourself.
