After listening to the Deputy President of Kenya, Dr. William Somoei Ruto, speaking about his chicken business, I decided to search the web and learn more about the subject. I was inspired to learn that he started his chicken business while in high school, in order to support his parents daily earnings. In a span of three decades he was able to expand his inventory to 1.2 million chickens, with a production of 180,000 eggs a day. My take away from Dr. Ruto’s story is that if a person takes ownership of their talents and resources such as, intellect, time, and functioning five senses, they can yield unimaginable outcomes. The only requirement is that they commit 100% of their mind, energy, effort, time, and consistency to a specific goal or endeavor.
Genesis 1:28 says “God blessed them [Adam and Eve] and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” In this scripture, God blessed our forefathers, Adam and Eve, bestowing upon them all the earthly infinite wealth. God commands them to bear more people, subdue the earth, and to care for the creatures of the air and seas. As the body of Christ, we are inheritors of the same earthly infinite wealth.
I remember the days of my youth, growing up on a shamba (farm) owned by British settlers. We were poor, yet happy. Our family had a few chickens, who were our roommates. The chickens slept alongside us in a designated corner of our tiny makeshift home, to protect them from wild animals and potential thieves. In the morning, I would let them roam outside the large shared compound, along with the other chickens from our neighbors who were also squatters. Like clockwork, the chickens would return in the evening before dusk. I marveled at how God had created these animals with an innate ability to return home without guidance or training. At any given time, our hens would produce about twelve chicks. They nested outside in a hidden place near our home. Our hens produced an abundance of eggs. Although we had enough hens to sustain us for food and to also make a profit, we did not eat chicken often. Meat of any kind was for special occasions and holidays. My parents never sold any of our chickens, and I now wonder if they ever considered them as a source of income.
I began to recall these memories as I reflected on the article about Dr. Ruto’s chicken business. I noted many similarities between my upbringing and that of Dr. Ruto. However, our mindset as youths was so different. Furthermore, we also shared in the same infinite inheritance that was promised to Adam and Eve. God instructed them to “rule over the birds of the air”, and perhaps Adam and Eve (like my young parents) probably did not fully grasp the significance of this statement. That these birds were important to mankind, because God created them not only as a source of nourishment, but for humans to use for their financial benefit.
My mind began to ponder on the possible outcome or profit my parents might have made if they had utilized the full potential of our chickens. This prompted me to share this concept with my nieces and nephews in Kenya, and their children. I requested that they would reserve some chickens for Geoffrey and myself, to use for our retirement. We would finance the care of four hens and one rooster. We decided to begin giving a hen and rooster as a birthday gift, in lieu of money. We would invest in land to care for the chickens and the parents would teach their children how to manage and care for the animals. The profits made would be used to cover high school fees, so by the time a child matriculates from high school they would have acquired an entrepreneur mentality and skillset. Thus, giving them the option to pursue a higher education or to continue growing the business.
I wish I had known about this concept during my early years. Life in my late seventies would look totally different. I would have the resources to travel the world with my husband. I would spend months sailing out to the farthest corners of the earth traveling on cruise ships. Nonetheless, I am blessed to have learned from Dr. Ruto’s journey now, because I can share it with as many people as possible and begin raising my own chickens. As long as breath of the Almighty Creator gives me life, it’s never too late!