In the heart of Kenya’s agribusiness landscape stands Wendy Farms, a rapidly growing poultry empire that has redefined indigenous chicken farming. Specializing in the KARI improved indigenous chicken breed, Wendy Farms is more than just a poultry business—it’s a story of resilience, innovation, and a dream turned reality.
A Vision Rooted in Passion
Wendy Farms operates across multiple segments of the indigenous chicken value chain—supplying day-old chicks, table eggs, meat birds, breeding stock, and even organic manure for crop farmers. Here, nothing goes to waste; every by-product is turned into a source of income.
At the center of this success story is Caleb Karuga, the visionary founder whose journey from journalism to agribusiness continues to inspire many young entrepreneurs in Africa.
A Childhood Spark in Othaya
Caleb’s love for farming began in the fertile highlands of Othaya, where he grew up watching his grandmother work tirelessly on her small farm. As a boy, he saw agriculture as a chore—a punishment that had to be completed before playtime. What he didn’t know then was that those moments were sowing the seeds of a lifelong passion.
“I used to wonder where the money in agriculture was,” Karuga recalls with a laugh. “Little did I know I’d one day make a living out of it.”
From Newsrooms to Farmlands
Before becoming a full-time farmer, Karuga worked as a journalist, hosting the popular Najivunia program on K24 TV. His career gave him a front-row seat to the world of agribusiness, where he met farmers and entrepreneurs making substantial profits from agriculture.
“Through Najivunia, I got to see agriculture from a business perspective,” he explains. “It wasn’t about subsistence farming anymore—it was about serious agribusiness built on economies of scale.”
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
Even as a journalist, Karuga’s entrepreneurial spirit burned bright. While pursuing a degree in Information Technology, he registered his first company, a video production firm that opened the door to his broadcasting career. Later, he ventured into a car hire business—a side hustle that eventually funded his entry into agriculture.
The Humble Beginning of Wendy Farms
In 2010, Karuga leased a small piece of land in Kikuyu, initially investing in pig farming. When that venture struggled, he pivoted to poultry.
“I started with just three indigenous chickens—two hens and one cock—from Tala in Machakos County,” he says. “I used to drive 30 kilometers every day from Nairobi just to check on them. When the first egg came after five months, it was a huge moment for me. It taught me patience.”
From those three chickens, Karuga built an empire. Today, Wendy Farms manages over 1,500 birds across multiple locations in Kikuyu, Nyeri, and Nanyuki.
Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones
Like any great success story, Karuga’s journey has had its share of challenges. In the early days, he lost nearly 100 chicks from his first batch of 500 due to poor vaccination. Another 200 had to be sold off to cut losses.
Many farmers believed that indigenous chickens were hardy enough to survive without vaccination—a costly misconception that taught Karuga one of his biggest lessons.
Everything changed when he discovered the KARI improved indigenous breed—a dual-purpose, disease-resistant bird ideal for both meat and eggs. With this discovery, Wendy Farms finally found its winning formula.
A Thriving Agribusiness
Today, Wendy Farms generates an estimated Ksh 600,000 per month from poultry alone, with additional income from strawberry and quail farming, bringing the total to nearly Ksh 800,000 monthly.
Beyond the impressive numbers, what sets Wendy Farms apart is its dedication to quality, sustainability, and continuous learning. Every challenge has been met with resilience and innovation—a true testament to Caleb’s belief that “farming is not a fallback plan; it’s a business.”
Looking Ahead
Karuga’s dream for Wendy Farms is ambitious but clear:
“In the next five years, I want Wendy Farms to be the brand of choice for indigenous chicken across East and Central Africa.”
With passion, hard work, and strategic thinking, Wendy Farms continues to inspire a new generation of agripreneurs who believe that success can indeed come from the soil.
Key Takeaways from Wendy Farms’ Journey
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Start small, think big: Even three chickens can be the start of an empire.
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Learn continuously: Every mistake is a lesson in disguise.
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Diversify wisely: Explore different value chains to maximize profits.
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Treat farming as a business: Success comes from strategy, not luck.
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