Teenager Zinedine Muthoka explores urban farming in bustling Eastleigh

Nineteen-year-old Zinedine Muthoka is defying the odds, earning a living as a farmer in Eastleigh, Nairobi, a neighbourhood known for bustling streets as many engage in wholesale and retail business activities.

Unable to pursue higher education due to financial constraints and with the resultant difficulties finding employment, he resolved to farm mid-last year, after completing his high school education.

With the guidance of his father, in a small space in his compound, Muthoka embarked on a journey of agricultural entrepreneurship in the heart of Eastleigh's Airbase Ward.

The teenager ventured into poultry farming, rabbit rearing, and cultivating various crops and medicinal plants including kale, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, mint plants, aloe vera and snake plants.

Despite the challenging urban environment and soil conditions, he persevered, determined to succeed.

"Urban farming is not easy here," he acknowledges. "But I had to make it."

Every morning, before the sun rises, Muthoka is hard at work, irrigating his crops and tending to his animals. The growth he has seen thus far, in the number of his animals, for instance, keeps him going.

"I'm happy to see my efforts paying off," he remarks with a smile.

Muthoka's dedication has not gone unnoticed as his community buys his produce.

"My neighbours buy vegetables from me. They support me," he notes.

Muthoka's journey has not been without challenges, top among them the perennial water shortage that Eastleigh residents have grappled with for a long time. The cost of purchasing water for irrigation significantly eats into his profits, making sustainability a constant concern.

"One of the biggest challenges I face is inadequate water to irrigate my farm," he says. "With Eastleigh facing persistent water shortages, I incur huge expenses buying water to irrigate my farm."

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Theft is another major concern, he says, adding he must remain vigilant so he often sacrifices rest and leisure time.

"I have to be around most of the time to make sure no intruder steals my poultry," he says.

Muthoka says he will remain focused despite the challenges and urges anyone seeking to venture into farming and other money-making initiatives to exercise resilience.

Grateful for his father's support and the opportunity to pursue farming, he dreams of expanding his operation.

"I hope to supply my poultry products to large companies like Kenchic and cater to hotels in Eastleigh and other parts of Nairobi," he says.