The saying disability is not inability has never rung truer than with Francis Muiruri, a poultry farmer in Gatanga Murang’a county.

Muiruri beat odds to establish a successful poultry farm despite growing up with leg disability. In an interview, the bold farmer revealed he contracted polio as a child and ended up becoming disabled on both legs, forcing him to use crutches for mobility.

The situation saw him experience a tough childhood as his father abandoned him thanks to his mother who stood up with him despite the stigma.

According to him, his mother encouraged him to seriously focus on poultry farming as it would help him in future.

Today, Muiruri is grateful for taking his mother’s advice as the venture pays him more than his main job at the Kiambu County Government.

Her farm which previously hosted pigs is now home to over 100 Layers chickens all confined in modern cages –battery cage system.

“Most people know me for my expertise in raising chickens in hanging cages. It’s a modern method that simplifies and increases the income of chicken farmers in limited spaces,” he says.

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Muiruri notes that chicken farmers using open methods face many challenges, such as the risk of disease transmission, the use of large spaces, chicken attacks by animals, and low income from hard work.

He adds that the battery cage system not only prevents diseases but also helps in feed conservation unlike the dip litter system.

Besides rearing chicken, Muiruri also sells cages and birds to both local and foreign customers.

Being a disabled person, he enjoys the priviledge of importing cages from China without paying taxes. This is in line with a Kenyan law that exempts people with disabilities from paying taxes.

The cost of fully installing one hanging cage for a farmer is Ksh140,000. This package includes a structure that accommodates 128 birds.

“I incorporate the birds as old-day chicks, I feed them and vaccinate them, then I sell them about two months to the start of their laying cycle,’’ he says.

His birds consumes five bags of feed per month and each bag costing Sh4,000. This means he uses Sh20,000 per month on feeds alone.

For every 100 chickens, Muiruri gets 3 trays of eggs per day which he sells at Sh430 per tray. In a month, his 1,000 chickens makes him up to Ksh187,000 in profit. Besides chicken farming, Muiruri produces goat milk, and vegetables.