The miracle herb that turned me on

I had very little milk, so the baby cried a lot because she was always hungry. The many flasks of porridge and black beans (njahi) did not work. My back constantly ached and my husband was seriously worried. During a farm consultancy job he mentioned my predicament. The farmer told him about Moringa oleifera and its immense properties. He later introduced him to a group that was growing it in collaboration with an NGO to alleviate malnutrition.

I started mixing Moringa leaf powder in all my food and chewing the seeds. The results were immediate. I am usually big after my pregnancies so I suffer from knee and lower back pain. After some time I noticed that my knee and back pain was gone and the weight was steadily melting away. I got the whole family to take Moringa. I noticed great improvement in my son’s health and in that of my mother-in-law.

When I resumed work I was one restless lady, especially during the dry spells in between commissions. I looked forward to weekends to go and market Moringa and make deliveries. My passion had shifted — it was no longer the flare of the camera lens that turned me on but the miracle of seeing someone’s health transformed. The positive success stories and the repeat buys gave me the courage to finally quit. It took a lot of sacrifice — we had to cut the family budget and even change our lifestyle.

For a while, I literary hawked Moringa! I was that lady who walks into your office or shop, excuses herself, and starts explaining. The first time, I bought five kilos with money from my salary. I packed Moringa in polythene sachets and stuck a handwritten label on them because I could not afford proper packaging. I would sell it, then buy a slightly bigger quantity. I printed brochures with Moringa information to educate people on its health benefits.

TURNING POINT

I vividly remember this one time after I quit my job to do Moringa full-time and my husband’s business went low financially. I barely had transport to get to town to sell Moringa. The matatu tout overcharged me and I had to alight midway to borrow money from a friend. I was angry and desperate — my business idea was good but money was not forthcoming! I ended up in her toilet crying and praying for strength to press on.

I do not know how long I stayed in there but it was my turning point. I decided I would not give up. I had an amazing product, so my business had to work.

I joined a sacco and saved 150 shillings every day for a year. This allowed me to borrow three times my savings. I then bought my first piece of land to plant Moringa. Ploughing back the profits has enabled us to expand our business. I have also had to go back to school at Kenyatta University to study nutrition.

That has not been easy with a family to look after and a business to grow. One of my key principles is living within my means and reinvesting as much as possible.

Through it all my husband was my pillar. Many times sales were low or nonexistent, but he really encouraged me. He also consulted the farmers alongside his regular job when he went to the field and encouraged them to plant Moringa. As the success stories poured in from family and friends, I felt compelled to spread the word. I visited key organisations to obtain information to be able to effectively explain why it was working.

I had a strong urge to demystify Moringa from the perception that it is just miti shamba. I started at the World Agro Forestry Institute, where I found thorough scientifically research and documentation for Moringa. I contacted the Ministry of Agriculture and partnered with the nutrition department. In agricultural forums I was encouraged when I met scientists who had researched Moringa since the early eighties. We partnered with the Kenya Institute of Agricultural Research (KARI) to do the agronomics of Moringa.

I also had the privilege of meeting the World Trade president of horticulture during one of their forums and he showed me their 10-year research on the benefits of Moringa. Getting these contacts was not easy but I am persistent at networking. The business has grown and I am proud to champion local, nutritious healthy alternatives. I have bought and established a 50-acre Moringa farm.

BREAKTHROUGH AT LAST

We have opened several branches of our shops in Nairobi, Thika, and Malindi. We are also franchising. Our products are in Chandarana, Ukwala, and Clean Shelf supermarkets. We are recruiting nutritionists who prevent lifestyle diseases through healthy choices rather than simply telling you what not to eat. I use exhibitions, brochures, and client testimonies. I sell my products in agricultural shows across the country and online. I am currently employing nine people. We work with over 500 farmers throughout the country. In short, I have made good progress.

I have had some amazing moments in my journey, such as educating former president Kibaki about Moringa and I was thrilled to make his list of legacy on youth development. Most recently I met President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has given his support through the Green Schools Initiative to plant Moringa in schools as a nutrition intervention.

I finally feel I have found my purpose in life. I derive so much pleasure in seeing people’s lives improve. When I see someone happy and smiling after taking Moringa and recovering from illness, my heart bursts with excitement. I have discovered that our country is blessed with many foods that can save lives. I also feel energised and fulfilled because through my work, I am playing a part in breaking the poverty cycle in Kenya.