Nairobi News

In the heart of Kairi village, amidst fields of bananas, maize and beans in Gatundu, Kiambu County, lies the thriving Consolata Njeri Mushrooms Farm.

While the region is predominantly focused on traditional food and cash crops, Njeri’s venture into mushrooms has become a remarkable success story, rising from the ashes of adversity.

Njeri’s journey into mushroom farming began in the midst of personal turmoil in 2017.

Pregnant with her third child, she faced a precarious medical condition that forced her to take bed rest.

To make matters worse, her now divorced husband left her when she needed support the most.

A former artisan specialising in sewing, Njeri was unable to continue her craft due to her condition.

To make matters worse, she was evicted from her home in Kakamega for rent arrears.

“At one point, I was almost thrown out for rent arrears,” she says.
But in the midst of the darkness, a glimmer of hope appeared when a compassionate Samaritan offered her shelter.

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It was in this moment of desperation that Njeri embarked on a journey of discovery, researching potential farming ventures online.

Inspired by a local farmer in Kakamega County, she found her calling in mushrooms – a protein-rich fungus that requires minimal space and local resources and offers promising returns.

With the modest sum of Sh1,800 borrowed from her mother, Njeri began her mushroom farming venture.

However, misfortune struck again when a fungal disease ravaged her first crop, resulting in a loss of Sh50,000.

“I returned to my parents’ house in Gatundu,” she says.

She had to start all over again and rebuild her business.

Five years on, Njeri’s Consolata Farm Fresh ‘n’ Organic Mushrooms has become a beacon of resilience and success.

She now supplies mushrooms across the country and works with more than 50 farms for reproduction.

“I have contracted them for reproduction to meet the ever-increasing demand for mushrooms,” she observes.

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Njeri’s commitment extends to market outreach, where she uses social media and partnerships with major retailers to sell her products.

Beyond profit, she is committed to community empowerment, offering training to women, youth and people with disabilities.

“Through this initiative, I have found that women are interested in farming. But for the youth, the majority are lured by alcohol,” she laments.

She recalls incidents where some young people, once paid, did not show up for work the next day.

But despite the challenges, she insists she is not ready to give in to the pressure to give up.

“I will not hesitate to share what has contributed to a remarkable growth in my life,” she affirms.

By sharing her expertise and providing opportunities for economic independence, she hopes to inspire others to embrace agriculture as a path to prosperity.

Through unwavering determination and a commitment to community empowerment, she has turned a miscarriage into a thriving mushroom empire, lighting a path of hope and prosperity for others to follow.