IT skills in farming,a success story

Being independent and opening his own poultry farm business

-As a very young man, Kevin Kanja decided that he would be independent and contribute to his community by opening his own business in Nakuru, Kenya. Deciding what kind of a business was not difficult.

-“I was brought up with chickens raised by my grandfather and grandmother,” Kanja said. “It was in my blood.”

kanja in his farm

Building IT and business skills through HP LIFE e-Learning

Planning and managing his business’ finances might prove a bit more challenging, so Kanja postponed his dream and made his way to the office of Tears Group Kenya, a training and empowerment group, in his hometown of Nakuru. While enrolling in information technology
courses there, Kanja learned of a unique, online training program for current and aspiring small business owners, HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (LIFE) e-Learning.

Kanja built his IT and business skills through HP LIFE e-Learning’s fun, easy-to-use modules on finance, marketing, operations, and communications. His confidence grew along with them.

green poultry feed

Adopting his skills and opening his own business

-“Some people had said, ‘You won’t make it,’ “ Kanja recalled. “But I knew after this course that I would be better able to manage my business. For me, it has been a good experience.” Soon, Kevschik
Poultry was born.

Kanja sells eggs, chicks, hens, and roosters in Nakuru’s Pangani Estate neighborhood. Among the skills he learned through HP LIFE e-Learning and now applies to the business are marketing and financial planning.

He said the former is important now, noting, “I am able to talk to people face-to-face and use brochures and email to sell my product”.

kari kienyeji chicken

Future plans - Partner up with friends and expanding his business. The latter, he added, will help him as he looks to the future: “I want to expand my business, so I plan and I will invest the money in

expanding instead of keeping the money for myself.”
-For now, Kanja is still pursuing his IT diploma and is a serious soccer player, which makes time management a challenge. Still in its first year, his business remains small. With his newfound skills and confidence, though, Kanja envisions that changing someday. “I have shared my story and passed some skills to my friends who are now thinking to partner up with me to expand Kevschick Poultry into something blink...

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