Ismael Kipkemei (left) and his friend catch fish at one of the ponds at their home in Uasin Gishu County as guests look on. The county is encouraging more people to venture into fish farming.
Today, the 19-year-old is reaping handsome returns from the venture, which he established in March last year with a capital of Sh10,000.
That initial investment made him Sh50,000, motivating him to construct two more fish ponds, he then stocked 1,000 catfish and 2,000 tilapia.
To purify the water, he introduces the water cabbage in the pond, which acts as a water purifier and also food for the fish.
With 400 fish ponds each producing 250 kilos of fish annually, the total production was approximately 100,000kgs, valued at Sh30million.
When Ismael Kipkemei fell ill two years ago, forcing him to drop out of school in Form Three, he felt hopeless, afraid that he would be financially dependent for the rest of his life.
And then his mother took him with her to visit a friend that farmed chicken and fish. He was so inspired by the fish venture, that when he got better, he decided to try his hand at fish farming.
