Magdalene Musembi, a 27-year-old Maseno University graduate with a mass communication degree, shifted to poultry farming in 2012 after four years of unsuccessful job applications. She now operates two farms, maintaining 1,000 Kuroiler chickens in Busia and 500 in Makadara, Athi River.
Musembi sources day-old chicks from Kampala, Uganda, prioritizing the F1 variety priced at Sh100. These chickens mature faster, reaching 5.5kg by five months, compared to 3.2kg for F2 and F3 strains. She emphasizes biosecurity protocols, including coop disinfection and strict vaccination schedules to prevent diseases like Newcastle and Gumboro.
Her business model generates income through eggs, meat, feathers, and manure. Feathers sell for Sh50 per kilogram to self-help groups and an art collective, while monthly manure sales yield Sh1,250 from 250kg. She supplies markets in Bungoma, Kakamega, and Sio Port, pricing mature chickens between Sh700 and Sh1,000 based on weight.
Despite challenges like feed costs and price volatility, Musembi attributes her success to her father, a veterinarian. Christian Odinga, a Busia-based veterinary officer, noted in a 2015 related story that agribusiness offers consistent opportunities for youth, citing steady demand for food products.
