Gladys is a medical science graduate who quit his job to focus on poultry farming with hopes of bettering her life outside the formal job market.
In an interview, she shared her journey to agribusiness which was initially her side hustle to supplement her nursing salary.
Gladys also mentioned that she was inspired by President William Ruto who rose from a mere poultry farmer to one of Kenya’s most powerful people.
Here is her story as told by WoK.
After completing her secondary school education, Gladys enrolled in university for a medical course which she completed in 2015.
Like any other graduate, she went through internship and later secured a job at a private medical facility earning Ksh 15,000 per month.
A year later, Gladys secured a job at another private hospital, this time earning a monthly salary of Ksh 20,000.
Despite this, she mentioned that the salary was not able to cover all her basic needs forcing her to venture into chicken farming to supplement her salary.
“Since my salary was insufficient to fulfil my needs and I occasionally had to work night shifts, chicken farming was the first side business idea that sprang to mind,” Gladys said.
Poultry farming
In a YouTube interview with Aim Agriculture, Gladys noted that she was skeptical about pursuing poultry farming full-time but she was inspired by success stories from chicken farmers such as President Ruto.
“Towards the end of 2019, I decided to resign from my job at the private hospital that I was working in,” she stated.
Gladys’ agribusiness journey started in a small structure where she would raise one-day old chicks and sell them once they clock one month.
Five months into her new venture, she started keeping kienyeji chicken which would produce eggs and they would be ready for the market in four months.
Success
Gladys said her current monthly income from poultry farming ranges from Ksh 80,000 to Ksh 100,000.
With such earnings, she stated that she doesn’t see the need of finding another job or seeking job opportunities abroad.
“I can make what most employed people in Kenya are making from my chicken business that has blossomed into something more,” Gladys said.
Gladys says that the business that she set up after the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled her to build a three-bedroom house for her parents and buy a vehicle.
Additionally, she also bought a motorcycle and hired a rider.
Gladys has also bought a property where she hopes to build rental properties, “Being in poultry has transformed my life. I have never regretted being in it.
“What matters a lot is your bank account. There has never been dirty money nor has an empty account made anyone happy.”
