Teaching is no doubt Martha Cheboi’s first love. You can easily tell that from her dedication to her pupils.
But Cheboi discovered early in her teaching career that her big heart can accommodate more than one passion.
When she was posted to Kotilion Primary School immediately after college, the idea of keeping poultry to make an extra income crossed her mind.
But it was not until she was transferred to Tilak Primary School in West Pokot county that the idea became a reality.
Her big break in poultry farming, however, came in 2015 when she took a loan from Eco-pillar Savings and Credit Co-operative Society to give her businesses a much-needed push.
“I initially took a Ksh500,000 loan from the Sacco and later another Ksh700,000. This gave my poultry project the kind of boost needed to make it a truly profitable venture,” recalls Cheboi, adding that she intends to take another loan to expand the business even further.
The initial loan enabled her acquire 150 kenbrew chicks for egg production. She used the second loan to buy a similar number of chicks.
Currently, Cheboi collects 200 eggs a day which she sells to boarding schools, hotels, markets in Kapenguria, Chepareria and Kitale. She also sells to retailers within and outside the county.
The business has also helped create jobs, with five people currently employed to take care of the birds.
Cheboi is a case study of people who have utilised loans from their saccos to transform their lives and those of people around them.
She has nothing but praise for poultry farming and her Sacco which has made her dream come true.
From the poultry farming proceeds, she has expanded her land from the initial three to six acres and bought three dairy cows.
Thanks to the business, Cheboi has also educated her children up to the university level. One of her sons is due to join the University of Nairobi to study Medicine.
Cheboi, who supervises her project during the weekend, is urging fellow teachers to engage in projects that can uplift their living standards.
Because of its success, hers is now the go-to project for people who wish to venture in poultry farming.
Her husband, Musa Kipkorir, has been supporting the project materially and in giving technical advice.
By Martin Ruto
