In Gikuni village in Nyathuna ward of Kabete in Kiambu County, the sound of pigs grunting in their pens has replaced the familiar silence of idle afternoons.
For Peter Gitau, the treasurer of a local youth group, this change has been life-changing.
After receiving piglets from the Kiambu County Government through a programme spearheaded by Governor Kimani Wamatangi, the group got to work.
They rented buildings to house the animals, and since then, the venture has flourished — so much so that they have become professional pig farmers.
What began as a simple initiative has evolved into a source of purpose, income, and hope for dozens of young people.
“We are not idle any more. These piglets have made us feel engaged,” says Gitau.
The youth of Gikuni have transformed from being uncertain to becoming enterprise-minded pig farmers — living proof that targeted empowerment can turn modest beginnings into sustainable livelihoods.
Kirangari Self Help Group is among the beneficiaries of the Kiambu County government's piglet empowerment programme, and as they say, the rest is history.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi (left) leads piglets distribution in Bibirioni, Limuru Sub-County, where 300 youths in each ward received a piglet.
Comprising former matatu touts, the group has successfully transformed the initiative into a thriving pig farming enterprise. What began as an empowerment effort has grown into a sustainable business venture that provides its members with a steady source of income and renewed purpose.
According to the group’s chairman, Joseph Kaniaru, the pig-rearing project has uplifted members economically and strengthened the group’s unity by creating a shared enterprise that benefits all.
Today, the Kirangari Self Help Group is a model of grassroots transformation. Their success story earns them admiration — and a fair share of envy — from many in their neighbourhood.
Eight months ago, Augustine Gathii had no idea that his life was about to change.
When he arrived at Mwea Secondary School in his local area, he was eager to hear Governor Wamatangi’s speech.
After the meeting, however, Gathii was among the young people who walked home with a piglet, courtesy of the Kiambu County Government.
Now, standing proudly beside his thriving pigsty in Gatukuyu village in the Mangu ward, the 28-year-old beams with hope and satisfaction as he sees the fruits of his labour beginning to pay off.
“It all started with this one piglet. I remember the day vividly. I had attended a meeting organised by Governor Wamatangi where he spoke about youth empowerment and agricultural sustainability. When they called out the names of those selected to receive piglets, mine was among them. I could not believe it," he recalls, gently scratching the back of a large sow surrounded by a playful litter of piglets.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi (left) leads piglets distribution in Bibirioni, Limuru Sub-County, where 300 youths in each ward received a piglet.
Photo credit: Pool
Gathii, a member of the Mwea Vision Group in Gatundu North, had already built a small structure at home in anticipation of being selected. That evening, he walked back home not just with a piglet, but with a renewed sense of purpose.
"Alongside the piglet, they gave me starter feed. Eight months later, the pig has given birth twice. I now have seven pigs in total. I have learnt how to mix my own feed, keep the pigs clean and healthy, and I have even started planning to expand my pigsty,” he says.
Just a few houses away, Boniface Mburu has had a similar experience. Mburu, who is 25, says he had been struggling to find consistent work since leaving high school.
"Jobs are scarce, and staying idle can lead to making bad decisions. But the piglet arrived just when I was about to give up. Mine recently gave birth to eight healthy piglets. I have already sold two and used the money to build a fence for the pigs and buy more feed,” he explains.
For both men, what began as a modest gift from the county council has grown into something much more meaningful: a livelihood and a future they can look forward to.
And theirs are not isolated stories. Across all 60 wards in Kiambu County, hundreds of young men like Gitau and Kaniaru have embraced agribusiness, thanks to the piglet empowerment programme championed by the county government.
Kirangari Youth Self-Help Group chairman, Joseph Kaniaru, attends to his pigs on December 18, 2025 in Nyathuna Ward, Kiambu County. POOL
Photo credit: Pool
This initiative, which is specifically designed to engage and uplift young men who are often left behind in traditional support programmes, has breathed new life into villages, turning them into mini-hubs of pig farming and stimulating local economies. Feed stores are reporting increased sales. Local carpenters are busy constructing pens. Animal health officers are in high demand. The ripple effect is tangible.
“What makes this programme different is that it didn’t just give us animals. There was follow-up training, veterinary support, and efforts to develop market linkages,” notes Gitau.
"There’s a kind of psychological transformation that happens when a young man can feed his family through his own labour. You walk with your head held high. You begin to see your own worth,” adds Kaniaru.
Many of the youth groups involved are now exploring cooperative marketing, pooling their piglets for sale to larger markets or processing units.
Others are thinking even bigger, such as turning their ventures into pig breeding enterprises or offering training to others, as well as incorporating biogas production from pig waste.
“Through this project, we aim to encourage both men and young people to rear pigs, which, if nurtured properly, has the potential to improve our people's economic situation. This piglet distribution is part of our grassroots empowerment strategy, which has also seen my administration provide improved kienyeji chicks to women across Kiambu," said the Governor.
Referring to some of the successful young people involved, the County Chief added, "With each sow producing between 10 and 15 piglets per litter, we expect the groups to own up to 100 pigs within just a few months. After that, they can sell some for a profit of up to Sh30,000 each and keep others for further breeding.'
John Kuria, the Chief Officer for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Kiambu, says that while large infrastructure projects and flashy initiatives often take centre stage, Governor Wamatangi has grounded his empowerment agenda in grassroots transformation.
“The impact of the piglet programme has been deeply personal, quietly changing the lives of young men in areas that rarely make the news. We have seen many success stories, and we hope that, within the next few months, pig farming will become a major driver of the local economy,” says Kuria.
In a county grappling with youth unemployment and rural-to-urban migration, the simple act of giving a piglet to a determined young man has become a powerful symbol of sustainable empowerment.
Standing beside his now-expanded pigsty with a shovel in hand and a broad smile on his face, Gitau says that the sky is the limit for beneficiaries of the pig project.
