Twice Beaten, Never Shy: How a Young Farmer’s Tenacity and Patience Keep Him Growing Amidst Challenges

When life throws lemons at you, you can duck, complain, or make lemonade.
For Larry Keya, a 27-year-old farmer from Kisumu Ndogo Estate in Eldoret, it wasn’t even a question—he chose to make the sweetest lemonade possible.

From Computer Dreams to Crop Fields

Growing up, Larry was fascinated by computers. His dream was to study computer science at university. But life had other plans. When his admission letter arrived, he discovered that his grades hadn’t met the cut-off—instead, he had been placed in Agricultural Economics at Moi University.

Switching courses would have meant wasting a full academic year. So Larry made a decision that would define his future—he stayed. “I figured I’d make the best of what fate handed me,” he recalls.

What started as disappointment turned into an unexpected gateway to entrepreneurship.

When Jobs Refused to Come

After graduation, Larry gave himself three months to find a job. Like many young graduates, he spent days sending out applications, attending interviews, and reaching out to relatives for opportunities. But after three months of rejection, he kept his promise—he stopped the job hunt and decided to create his own opportunity.

He turned to what he knew—agriculture.

Starting Small, Learning Fast

In 2011, Larry rented a small piece of land in Eldoret and set up his first greenhouse. With zero hands-on farming experience, his only tools were patience, curiosity, and the desire to learn.

He began experimenting with different crops—eggplant, courgette, capsicum, tomatoes, and cucumbers. He didn’t rush to scale up. Instead, he tested a few rows at a time, learning each crop’s growth pattern, diseases, and market behavior before investing more.

“I first study the crop in the field, do my research, and then decide if it’s worth growing on a larger scale,” he says.

That mindset became the foundation of his success.

Building a Business, One Greenhouse at a Time

Today, Larry operates two 15x8-meter greenhouses under the Agri-Vijana Loan Program from the Youth Fund in partnership with Amiran Kenya. He grows English cucumbers and capsicums—high-value crops with steady market demand.

With 500 cucumber plants producing about 125 kg per week, Larry sells at Ksh 80 per kilogram, earning approximately Ksh 10,000 weekly from one greenhouse alone.

His wife and business partner, Jackie Keya, works alongside him to manage production and marketing. Together, they’ve turned setbacks into stepping stones.

Lessons from the Farm

Larry has learned some hard but valuable lessons:

• Start from the market, not the farm.
  “Most new farmers plant first and then start looking for a market when the crop is ready,” he warns. “That’s when middlemen exploit you.”
  By identifying buyers before planting, Larry ensures consistent sales and fair prices.

• Experiment and adapt.
  His switch from traditional to English cucumbers doubled his income after realizing the market value difference through research.

• Quality pays.
  Larry sources seedlings from Syngenta, ensuring high yields and premium quality.

Twice Beaten, Never Shy

Larry’s journey hasn’t been smooth.
His first greenhouse venture ended abruptly when the landowner evicted him after realizing how profitable the business was.

Undeterred, Larry and Jackie relocated to the Chep area in Eldoret, leasing another farm that came with six greenhouses. Business thrived until the new landowner cut off their water supply, sabotaging their work.

That could have been the end—but fate intervened. Around the same time, Larry’s Agri-Vijana Loan was approved, allowing them to start afresh in Nairobi.

“Losing everything twice wasn’t easy,” he admits, “but every setback taught us something. We learned resilience—and that’s worth more than money.”

The Road Ahead

Today, the Keyas are rebuilding stronger than ever. Their greenhouses are flourishing, their markets stable, and their spirits high. Larry continues to share his farming tips with other youth, proving that agriculture is not a fallback plan—it’s a business opportunity.

His story is a testament to one simple truth:
Success is not about avoiding failure but rising every time you fall.

Twice beaten, never shy—Larry Keya embodies what true tenacity looks like.

🌱 Key Takeaways for Young Farmers

• Don’t wait for opportunity—create it.

• Learn continuously and adapt to challenges.

• Always find your market before you plant.

• Treat farming as a business, not a gamble.

• When life pushes you down, grow through the dirt.