Evans Mwangi, a former police officer and Personal Body guard to the late Kenya’s third President Mwai Kibaki, made a life-altering decision to leave the police force due to the discouragingly low salary he received.
This decision led him on an unexpected path to success as a grass farmer, where he found financial independence and fulfilment.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
Leaving the Police Force
After dedicating eight years of his life to the police service, Mwangi’s morale began to suffer due to the meager monthly salary of Sh700.
Despite being attached to Mwai Kibaki during the 1996 presidential election campaigns, Mwangi decided it was time to seek better opportunities elsewhere.
In 1996, he bid farewell to his career in law enforcement and embarked on a new journey.
Discovering Guatemala Grass
Following his departure from the police force, Mwangi found himself in Tambaya village, located in the Mukurweini Constituency of Nyeri County.
It was there that he encountered an opportunity that would change his life forever.
A friend working at Egerton University donated eight suckers of Guatemala grass to Mwangi.
Although he possessed limited knowledge about the grass, Mwangi saw potential and decided to give it a try.
Armed with determination and a handful of suckers, Mwangi began his grass farming venture on his one-and-a-half-acre plot of land adjacent to a river.
He meticulously planted stem cuttings and rooted culms, learning through trial and error how to nurture the grass to maturity.
Within a period of three to four months, the Guatemala grass was ready for harvesting.
Building a Thriving Business
Mwangi’s commitment and hard work in the grass farming industry began to yield fruitful results.
He discovered that there was a substantial demand for Guatemala grass among farmers across Kenya and even in neighboring Uganda.
Mwangi’s reputation as a reliable supplier grew, and he started selling bundles of six-root splits at farmers’ field days and agricultural shows.
As his grass farming business flourished, Mwangi’s earnings increased significantly.
His annual income from sucker sales alone reached approximately Sh200,000.
However, his participation in farmers’ events proved even more lucrative, with the potential to earn a clean Sh50,000 or more during these occasions.
This newfound success not only transformed Mwangi’s financial situation but also enabled him to support his family’s needs and fund his children’s education.
“I do not regret venturing into farming this grass because it settles all our bills. I have a daughter in Form Four, another at polytechnic in Kirinyaga and a son at Kabete Polytechnic.” Mwangi said in a past interview with Business Daily
