Why is posho mill business unpopular in Kajiado, yet it is a goldmine?

By our reporter

It takes a bit of time for a person to decide which type of business they want to establish. The process requires wide consultations and comparisons before the plunge is taken headlong.

Posho mill, or grain milling, is rare business in Kajiado, perhaps because they are predominantly livestock keepers. Yet one cannot help but think they are either antiquated or unprofitable.

Duncan Abogo owns a posho mill in Kajiado. Before he ventured into it, he used to work with big organizations such as Kenya Airways, Management for Health Services, and Unga Limited in the logistics departments. He studied Business Management at Moi University.

He was last employed in 2015.

“I decided to quit employment and ventured into real estate and chicken farming,” he says, having gained some invaluable experience in those companies to kick off milling grain in 2017, which he had mulled over since 2016.

“I wonder why we tell fresh graduates to create businesses. It is difficult. The skills are learned while working,” he adds.

His business has been upscaling despite a few challenges. He has em- ployed someone to work with.

Patrick Karanja, who also operates a similar business, says it is an enterprise without low or high seasons.

“This business is good. There is no time in the year that we receive few customers. Now you can see how promising it is,” Karanja says.

He owns two posho mills, one in Kajido town and another in Kitengela.

Abogo notes that every data he gets daily helps him project the future. Apparently, he is building his brand that will see him offer sifted maize meal.

“From the much I have garnered, I want to expand my business further. Before reaching equilibrium, there are always gaps that we should tap and utilize. I still have gaps that gradually I am tapping and turning them to be more profitable,” he says.

Karanja is dreaming of expanding his too.

“I want to set up posho mills across Kajiado County. From the experience I have in the business, it is profitable. It is not like selling perishable goods. More importantly, everyone must eat,” he says.

Both agree that there is stiff competition from packed maize meal. However, that does not hinder them from running their businesses.

“There are a lot of brands in the market, but you should consider that not all go for the packed flour. I have heard majority of people prefer milled whole grain rather than buy it processed. Also, there are some who mix the two, thus guaranteeing the survival of the industry,” Karanja reasons.

He reveals that the business has been essential for him to establish other entities like peanut processing.

“When someone finds me here, he may perceive that I suffer since it is considered a dirty job. Contrary, I have been able to build a house, educate my children, buy a car and now I process peanut butter. I have a roasting machine here and others elsewhere that are used to produce peanut butter,” Karanja boasts.

His wife runs the peanut business because of her interest in it.

He says it is practically impossible to be a billionaire by depending on employment since the richest people in the world own companies.

“I challenge those who underestimate our work that the richest people own their businesses. No boss will allow an employee to earn more than him,” he says.

According to him, there are many underrated opportunities that people can do to become rich.

You might agree. Grant Cardone, a top sales expert who has built a $500 million real estate empire and NYT bestselling author points out that poor people try to replace income sources, but rich people add.