Young Farmers Reaping Big from Vegetable Farming in Kenya

In Kenya, a new wave of young entrepreneurs is turning to agriculture—and proving that farming is not just for the old generation. From small plots and borrowed land, ambitious youth are cultivating success through vegetable growing, delivery services, and agribusiness innovation.

Two shining examples of this movement are Kinyanjui Kahunya from Limuru and Alpha Ndung’u from Kahawa Sukari. Both have transformed small beginnings into thriving ventures supplying vegetables to homes, markets, and even supermarkets.

🥬 Kinyanjui Kahunya: From Sh750 to a Thriving Grocery Brand

At just 17 years old, Kinyanjui Kahunya decided to try farming after completing high school. Inspired by his grandmother—a retired teacher turned successful farmer—he planted his first crop of coriander (“dania”) with an initial investment of Sh750. Within weeks, he earned Sh9,000, a profit that sparked his passion for agribusiness.

“My grandmother inspired me. After seeing how well her farming was doing, I decided to give it a try,” says Kinyanjui.

Encouraged by his first success, Kinyanjui leased three-quarters of an acre in Njambini at Sh3,000 per plot and planted snow peas, making an impressive Sh72,000 from the harvest. He later launched Kiki’s Groceries Supplies, a home delivery service providing fresh vegetables and fruits to urban clients.

🚚 From Farm to Doorstep: Freshness Meets Quality

Through Kiki’s Groceries, Kinyanjui delivers a variety of produce, including kale, spinach, courgette, cucumber, broccoli, eggplant, coriander, and onions. His customers are mostly busy professionals who want fresh, quality produce delivered conveniently to their homes or offices.

His slogan—“Where Freshness Meets Quality”—reflects his commitment to organic farming. He relies on manure instead of chemical fertilizers, investing Sh50,000 per lorry load that lasts up to three seasons.

Deliveries around Nairobi’s CBD cost about Sh300, while areas like Thika, Kiambu, and Mombasa Road are charged Sh400. On average, he earns between Sh35,000 and Sh40,000 per month.

“Clients can visit the farm to see where their food comes from. It builds trust and transparency,” says Kinyanjui, now a second-year Law student at the University of Nairobi.

His biggest challenge? Building trust. Once, a client received bad fruits, and he had to compensate them—a costly but important lesson in customer service.

Looking ahead, Kinyanjui plans to expand into event catering, fresh juice, and salad supplies, targeting supermarkets and city-based eateries. He dreams of owning a large grocery store in Nairobi’s CBD and creating a model farm to mentor young farmers.

🥦 Alpha Ndung’u: From Bucket Watering to Supplying Naivas Supermarket

In Kahawa Sukari, about 20 km from Nairobi’s city center, Alpha Ndung’u has built a thriving vegetable business despite humble beginnings. He started small, watering his crops by hand using a bucket. Today, his farm supplies vegetables to Naivas Supermarket daily.

Ndung’u grows broccoli, coriander, amaranth (terere), and celery, earning between Sh3,000 and Sh6,000 daily, depending on demand. He also rears chickens, selling about 10 crates of eggs per day at Sh300 per crate.

“Farming is a costly affair, but hard work pays,” he says. “I started by doing market research, carrying samples to prospective clients — and that’s how I landed supermarket contracts.”

🌍 Investing in Healthy Living and Youth Empowerment

Ndung’u was motivated by the growing demand for healthy, organic food. However, his biggest hurdle has been accessing affordable soil testing and extension services.

“When it rains, this area floods. I need expert advice on soil health. Extension services should be more accessible, especially to young farmers,” he says.

At just 23 years old and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Nairobi, Alpha has ambitious plans. He has registered two companies—Alpham Fresh Produce and Alpham Kilimo Consultancy—to expand his agribusiness and mentor youth interested in farming.

He plans to open grocery outlets in Syokimau and Thika Road Mall, offering fresh vegetables and juices for urban consumers. Through Alpham Kilimo Consultancy, he wants to create model farms where young investors can pool resources and have professional farmers manage their projects.

“I want to help young people see that farming can be profitable. My goal is to retire from farming, not to farming,” Ndung’u says with a smile.

🌾 Farming: The New Frontier for Youth Employment

The stories of Kinyanjui and Alpha are proof that agribusiness can be a powerful tool for youth empowerment in Kenya. With creativity, persistence, and innovation, young people are redefining agriculture—turning it from a survival job into a profitable career.

Their journeys show that with the right mindset and mentorship, the soil can indeed yield more than crops—it can grow dreams, independence, and financial freedom.