Kelvin Kilonzo stands as a triumphant entrepreneur who has found fulfillment and prosperity through his venture into poultry farming.
From a young age, Kilonzo nurtured a passion that would later evolve into a flourishing business model, ensuring direct access for consumers to poultry products from his own farm.
His innovative approach involves adding value to the eggs through hatching chicks, marking him as a farmer who knew his calling from childhood. Commencing his poultry venture in Tala, Machakos, Kilonzo not only realized but also transformed it into a lucrative enterprise.
Reflecting on his modest beginnings during an interview with Taifa Leo, Kilonzo expressed gratitude for his mother’s generosity, saving every coin she gave him for shopping or from leftovers after purchases.
With a meager capital of Sh30, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey with three chicks, eventually leading to the establishment of a substantial project. Despite facing challenges, Kilonzo persevered, achieving a twofold increase in the number of chickens and funding his high school education through the proceeds of his poultry business.
After completing his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kilonzo pursued a Diploma in Animal Science, further honing his skills in poultry farming. Throughout his higher education, he continued to expand his poultry business by incorporating vegetable and tomato cultivation.
Today, Kilonzo stands as one of the country’s esteemed poultry farmers, managing a significant egg incubation project for chick production in Kiambu County under his company, Tala Poultry Farmers. He also oversees a project for indigenous egg-laying chickens on Kangundo Road, Machakos.
Starting with 200 chicks, he now manages thousands and operates 20 incubators. His clientele includes NGOs, youth groups, mothers’ groups, and individual farmers from various counties, supplying restaurants and hotels with meat chickens.
In his Kangundo Road project focusing on egg production, Kilonzo collects approximately 85% of the product daily. To address the challenge of rising feed costs, he has adopted a system of making his own chicken feed, reducing farming expenses by nearly 75%.
The high cost of animal feed, exacerbated by VAT on raw materials and material scarcity, has led Kilonzo to take control of his supply chain. He has also embraced a modern system of watering chickens, utilizing taps connected to processed channels with reservoirs.
Kelvin Kilonzo’s journey from humble beginnings to a successful poultry entrepreneur showcases resilience, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable farming practices.
