Meet Fredrick Macharia, the Graduate Who Makes Up to Ksh 100,000 a Month Selling Porridge on the Streets of Nairobi

Just Like many recent graduates, Fredrick Macharia went into the job market in 2018 full of enthusiasm and great hopes in which he could eventually earn Upto 100,000 a month selling Uji.

But the harsh reality of job scarcity struck him hard, and finding a work turned out to be an enormous problem even with his best efforts.

His first venture into the workforce consisted of menial labour, such as six months of arduous work at a construction site. During this period, Macharia came upon the concept of selling porridge, which would revolutionise his life.

According to Macharia, “people would come to the construction site with flasks and food dishes to sell breakfast and lunch to us.”

When he saw the opportunity to give his coworkers a much-needed service, his entrepreneurial spirit was kindled.

Since Macharia’s income from his construction work was insufficient to pay for necessities like food and rent, he recognised a chance to close a gap in the market.

Combining forces with his foster sister, Macharia decided to move to Nakuru and start a porridge business. They began with the classic porridge, which is made with flour, sugar, and water. But when they learned about a brand-new consumer craze called “super uji,” their trip took an unexpected turn.

This “super uji” was a nourishing concoction of organic ingredients, including yams, sorghum, ground nuts, milk, bananas, simsim, stinging nettles, and omena, that was unlike any other porridge.

Macharia and his sister combined their resources, investing Sh7,000 in a blender and borrowing an extra Sh3,000 for ingredients, realising the potential of this special offering.

For Macharia, the introduction of “super uji” was a game-changer. Orders started rolling in, and they developed a devoted following of patrons who enthusiastically recommended their porridge to others. Macharia’s company flourished swiftly, and the two extended their business.

Macharia and his sister began their entrepreneurial journey by bringing a mutual partner into the company. at order to help sell their porridge at Nakuru’s offices and other establishments, they also hired three employees.

Their astute choices and diligent labour paid off, resulting in a flourishing enterprise that brings in a substantial revenue.

Once borne out of observation and need, the porridge business is now Macharia’s profitable endeavour. Depending on the ingredients used, the profit made each bowl varies from Ksh 70 to Ksh 100. The squad can earn up to Ksh 5,000 on a successful day.

“I am glad that more and more people are beginning to understand how important it is to return to traditional foods like yams, sorghum, and the items we use to make porridge.

According to Macharia, “These foods are very nutritious and will help keep lifestyle diseases away.”