Losing a job was a blessing in disguise for John Rapando, a journalist who is now reaping big from poultry farming.
Rapando’s financial instability began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the company he was working for halted operations.
As challenges continued to engulf the media industry, Rapando decided to explore opportunities in other sectors, thanks to his interest in agribusiness.
He invested in chicken farming, a decision that has since proved to be worthwhile.
“I had to make a decision and dedicate time and resources to the idea, which has now become a reality and a major income-generating activity for me,” he told The Star.
The 33-year-old started with only Sh30,000, part of which was used to acquire 50 layers and set up a simple structure.
His rural home in Mumias West constituency, Kakamega county, provided some readily available building materials, reducing the initial costs significantly.
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“I took time to plan this side hustle carefully. I started in early 2023. It grew fast, and in 2024, I had to expand it and open up the farm,” he narrated.
Today, the farmer who relies on the venture as his main source of income, has 2,500 layers that produce about 2,000 eggs daily. This translates to a daily income of roughly Sh25,000 on a good day if he sells all his collections.
Rapando says poultry farming is an attractive venture due to its relatively low space requirements compared to other livestock.
“Chicken are highly adaptable to different environments making them easy to manage and sustain. They adapt easily, grow fast and the output can be good as long as they are fed well and taken good care of daily,” he says.
He notes that one secret to successful poultry farming is a high level of hygiene to keep the birds healthy. The farmer ensures his flock is treated twice every month.
Additionally, proper housing, timely vaccination and hygiene are crucial in poultry production.
Unlike many smallholder poultry farmers who make their feeds, Rapando buys all his feeds from millers, which according to him makes the production process easier.
Feed production, he said, is a complicated process, where quality assurance matters a lot to ensure consistent quality. Besides feeds, one needs good capital for raw materials and equipment, which is financially strenuous.
Rapando has created employment for eight youths who assist in supplying eggs around Kakamega.
