The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting,
digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading
multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
I could not continue working for Sh60,000 salary when I could earn Sh100,000 in a month.
I quit the dentist job and started selling vegetables in different parts of Nairobi.
I don’t regret taking the bold move because I have since employed four people who help me with deliveries.
I also met a friend, Zachary Wanjau, and our common interest in farming has kept us together to date.
We have planted different crops in Laikipia on 12 acres that we leased in 2015. We planted spinach, lettuce, amaranth, courgettes and kales.
We could make Sh6,000 in a day from sales in Nairobi. It is more profitable to sell vegetables from the farm because the demand for fresh vegetables in Nairobi is high.
We have since added cereals such as lentil, chick peas, green grams, black beans and giant beans.
Among the challenges we have faced are water scarcity and invasion of the farm by wildlife.
We also lost Sh5 million after sinking two boreholes and we did not get water despite hiring geologists from the Agriculture ministry to guide us.
At the moment, we are focusing on contract farming and are educating about 27 farmers on transforming farming into a profitable venture.