At just 28 years old, Mercy Buleti made a life-changing decision. After the passing of her father, she returned to her rural home in Kakamega County to care for her aging mother. Despite holding a degree in English Literature, Mercy faced the harsh reality of limited job opportunities. But instead of giving up, she found a path in poultry farming, starting with just four chicks and a lot of determination, backed by her mother’s support.

Success Story of Mercy Buleti: A Youth Empowered Through Poultry Farming

It wasn’t easy. Through trial and error, she slowly grew her flock, learning as she went. But then disaster struck. A tragic fire, caused by faulty wiring, wiped out everything, her birds, feed, and hard-earned savings. The loss was devastating, leaving her in debt and at a crossroads. Yet, Mercy refused to quit. She chose to rise again, this time with a stronger, smarter approach.

Mercy joined the Kakamega Ray Youth Cooperative Society, a move that gave her access to vital training on safe poultry housing, business resilience, and financial resources. This marked the turning point in her journey.

In 2024, Mercy’s big breakthrough arrived. She was selected for the mother brooding concept under the Kenya Livestock Marketing and Resilience Project (KLMP), an initiative supported by the Embassy of Sweden in Nairobi. As a “mother brooder,” Mercy was tasked with raising day-old chicks into one-month-old juveniles for sale to other farmers, a role that came with both responsibility and opportunity.

The project provided her with the essential tools for success:

  • 500 certified chicks from Uzima Limited
  • A gas-powered brooder from Arinifu Technologies
  • Quality feed from Unga Farm Care
  • Intensive technical training and mentorship

With this solid foundation, Mercy’s chick mortality rate dropped from over 10% to below 2%, thanks to continued support from Heifer International. This success not only boosted her confidence but also sharpened her business skills, setting her up as a role model in her community.

Success Story of Mercy Buleti: A Youth Empowered Through Poultry Farming

Oscar Silali, KLMP’s Livestock Production Coordinator, highlighted why poultry farming is a perfect fit for youth and women. “You don’t need land titles to start. Poultry is not just about survival; it’s a ladder to economic empowerment.”

Mercy’s success story didn’t end with her own farm. She has become a mentor and a beacon of hope. Recently, she supported a young woman who was struggling to pay her college tuition. Mercy offered her employment and paid her with 23 chicks, helping her start a micro-enterprise. That simple act of kindness allowed the young woman to fund her education through poultry income.

Mercy understands the deeper challenges that many aspiring farmers face, lack of capital, expensive infrastructure, and limited access to technical knowledge. She says, “Telling a girl with 10 chicks to build a standard brooder is like asking her to choose between shelter and livelihood.” For Mercy, true success comes from community support, resilience, and shared belief in one another.

Today, Mercy Buleti is not just a poultry farmer. She’s an active player in the growing poultry value chain, pushing the mother brooding model, building market linkages, and mentoring other youth and women to follow her path. Her vision is clear: expand her enterprise, train more young people, and secure long-term income by creating stronger market networks.

“This is not charity,” Mercy says firmly. “It is business. It is empowerment. It is growth.”

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https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1754470414963-e1754481069296-1024x682.jpghttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1754470414963-e1754481069296-150x150.jpgFarmersTrend# TrendingSuccess StoriesAt just 28 years old, Mercy Buleti made a life-changing decision. After the passing of her father, she returned to her rural home in Kakamega County to care for her aging mother. Despite holding a degree in English Literature, Mercy faced the harsh reality of limited job opportunities. But...New Generation Culture in Agriculture