Meet A Kenyan Uji Seller Making KSH.100,000 Monthly From Selling Porridge

When life offers you lemons, make lemonade is a saying used to inspire people to constantly look for the positive and try to make the best of the situations that life throws at us. 

Janet Chepkoech, a Kericho local, is undoubtedly one of the best examples of the above term, as she embraced a difficult phase in her life and devised a business idea that earned her thousands of shillings.

Chepkoech, a porridge hawker, stated in a previous interview that she went into the industry to support her family because she is the breadwinner and did not have a formal job.

Following her entry into the industry, Chepkoech established a reliable clientele to whom she consistently provides porridge. She claimed that traders from all across the city and government officials from Kericho County made up her usual customers.

The mother of two claimed to earn up to Sh4,000 per day, which, if she works six days a week, would amount to over Sh100,000 per month.

"On a good day, I sell 10 litres of porridge—5 litres of fermented porridge and 5 litres of non-fermented porridge—with a cup going for Sh20 and more than 100 chapatis before mid-morning, and I make Sh4000 a day that way.” The Outgoing business lady said.

"With that type of money, I am able to save, take part in table banking organizations, as well as provide for my family.” She added.

In order to make sure the porridge and chapatis are prepared in time to be delivered to customers, Chepkoech remarked that she must be up in the early morning hours. 

She acknowledged that she has been in the industry for more than five years and said that educating and supporting her children is her first priority.

Chepkoech explained that continuously delivering cuisine that fulfils the expectations of the customer, positively receiving feedback, and listening to her clientele have been game changers for her business.

"Keeping good hygiene and developing friendly relationships with customers has worked wonders for me. I also make certain that I meet my consumers' expectations. As a result, I treat them with the dignity they deserve," she explained.

Similar to any other enterprise, hers has faced significant challenges. She elaborated how the COVID-19 pandemic posed one of the most substantial obstacles, particularly due to the stringent government containment measures. Her business was severely impacted by this, but she managed to recover.