Peter Lewis: A Kenyan in Australia Building Bridges Through Planning and Business
When Peter Lewis boarded a plane bound for Australia, he carried more than just a student visa and a suitcase. He carried the weight of sacrifice, knowing that his parents had sold land to fund his education, and the pride of being the first in his family to reach that academic milestone. He came to Australia with determination to pursue a Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning, but also with the quiet awareness that this was a chance to rewrite not just his future, but his family’s story.
The early days were far from glamorous. Culture shock struck immediately—accents that seemed impossible to follow, foods that felt foreign, and a pace of life that forced him to keep up or be left behind. Peter threw himself into survival mode, balancing support jobs with his demanding studies. For him, this wasn’t just about paying rent; it was about proving his resilience. “I saw it as a test,” he recalls. “If I could adapt here, I knew I could thrive anywhere.”
Image @Peter with the South Australian Premier
Slowly, Peter carved a path into his profession. Moving into council planning roles was no small feat, especially when his lack of local experience became an obstacle. Persistence became his closest companion. He learned to network, to be patient, and to keep knocking on doors until one opened. What stood out to him most was how different the system was compared to Kenya—here, professionalism and performance mattered more than who you knew. It was a lesson that sharpened his approach and expanded his view of career opportunities.
Yet Peter’s ambitions didn’t stop at a stable job. He had always been an entrepreneur at heart, and in Australia, that instinct only grew stronger. He launched Peter’s Transport, a haulage business designed to deliver simple and reliable services, and later founded Zamir Real Estate, a consultancy aimed at helping diaspora investors navigate property ownership back in Kenya. Both businesses were born from his ability to see gaps and opportunities—migrants struggling to invest confidently at home and local clients in need of dependable transport solutions.
The journey into business wasn’t without hardship. Securing capital, building trust, and gaining visibility were constant challenges. Peter chose to start small, proving his value one job at a time. Word-of-mouth referrals became his lifeline, and slowly his reputation grew. Alongside his ventures, he leaned heavily on the Kenyan-Australian community, finding strength in the support of church groups, associations like KASA, and the network of friends who shared advice, encouragement, and opportunities. For him, community has never been just about belonging; it has been about survival, connection, and growth.
Image @Peter with the Minister of Planning and urban development
Despite the distance, Kenya has never stopped shaping Peter’s outlook. His upbringing taught him grit and perseverance—qualities that guided him through homesickness, financial pressure, and setbacks along the way. Regular trips home, close family ties, and active involvement in diaspora networks keep him grounded. “My Kenyan background gave me perspective,” he says. “I don’t take opportunity lightly.”
Looking ahead, Peter envisions a future defined by scale and impact. He dreams of growing Peter’s Transport into a trusted local brand, expanding Zamir Real Estate into a bridge for diaspora investors, and eventually building a planning consultancy that combines his professional expertise with his entrepreneurial spirit. For him, success is not just about personal achievement but about creating pathways for others, standing firmly on both Australian and Kenyan soil, and proving that with vision and resilience, the immigrant journey can blossom into something extraordinary.
