While growing up, Meshack Mwau Mulevu had a soft spot for livestock keeping. Later in life, that passion gave birth to one of the biggest meat supplying companies in Kenya.

Give us a brief introduction of your company.

Eastmeat Supplies Limited is a pioneering agribusiness dedicated to processing high-quality livestock meat sourced from smallholder farmers across various Arid and Semi-Arid Lands counties in Kenya. We play a pivotal role in addressing market gaps for these farmers by offering off-take services, slaughtering, processing, and distributing a diverse range of meat products, including beef, poultry, lamb, and goat.

What was the inspiration in founding this company?

It stemmed from my childhood experiences, particularly witnessing my mother rear chickens and support our family through poultry farming.

These memories left a profound impact on me, and I realised that despite the immense potential in the agricultural sector, farmers often struggled to find a reliable market.

I initiated this company with the aim of making a meaningful contribution to our community by empowering local farmers in poultry production and bridging the market gap.

Take us through your entrepreneurship journey?

Prior to founding the company, I worked as an accountant, but I never found true satisfaction in that role. In September 2016, I took a leap of faith and co-founded Eastmeat with my brother Cleophas Mwanzia, investing Sh700,000 from my savings.

How was the business in the first few months and how have you managed to grow and upscale it?
The initial months were marked by trial and error, but we learned from our mistakes as we grew.

We initially started by purchasing chickens from local markets, manually processing them, and selling to individual buyers and outlets such as kiosks, hotels and shops.

Since we didn’t have refrigerated trucks, we used to deliver our chicken in baskets using handcarts. We wanted to sell to supermarkets, but they were reluctant to buy because l didn’t have refrigerated trucks to transport the birds.

However, a significant turning point came when we secured support from KCB bank, obtaining an overdraft of Sh1 million and an asset finance of Sh3.5 million to acquire a refrigerated van. This expansion allowed us to target the retail market and establish a partnership with Naivas Supermarket.

How was your entry into the retail market?

It proved successful, especially with a growing demand for kienyeji chicken in the supermarkets. This demand eventually outpaced our supply capacity, leading us to participate in the KCB Mobigrow programme, where the bank funded various packages that included both chicks and feeds for trained farmers.

We were able to off-take these birds, process them, and supply them to supermarkets. This initiative significantly boosted our poultry production. As our poultry production continued to thrive, we recognised the need for more partnerships.

In 2021 we entered yet another partnership with Usaid-funded Feed the Future Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity that offered us a substantial grant of Sh31 million. These funds enabled us to invest in critical infrastructure, including cold rooms, packaging machines, vacuum machines, and digital weighing scales.

We expanded our operations to Kitui and Taita Taveta counties, broadening our impact. Initially we were operating in Makueni County.

Tell us more about the growth.

Our growth didn’t stop with poultry; we diversified into other livestock value chains and acquired a 10-wheeler truck through our partnership with KCB to facilitate the transportation of live bulls, heifers, and goats from farms to slaughterhouses.

We also received funding for 17 refrigerated trucks, equipped with modern refrigeration systems to maintain the recommended cold chain for our products. Today, we have the capability to vacuum-package boneless meat, extending its shelf life to 45 days while ensuring quality.

We are proud to report an average monthly off-take of Sh10 million for chicken and over Sh20 million for other livestock value chains.

We produce about 1.5 tonnes of capons, 500-600kg of improved kienyeji chicken and 300kg of pure kienyeji chicken per day. We supply supermarkets such as Naivas, Quickmart, and Carrefour.

Was entrepreneurship always your ambition?

No, my childhood ambitions were not solely focused on becoming a businessman. While I had dreams and aspirations, my primary focus was on the vision of livestock and its potential to contribute to food security and nutrition in our country.

This vision has driven me to work tirelessly towards making it a profitable endeavour, not only for personal gain, but also to positively impact our nation’s economy and the socio-economic well-being of its people.

What brings you the most satisfaction as an entrepreneur?

The most satisfying aspect of being an entrepreneur is the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives and contribute to the betterment of our nation.

I take pride in knowing that I am not only running a successful business, but also making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and the overall quality of our nation.

Ukulima bora ni ubora wa taifa bora (good farming practices is good for a nation) — this mantra drives me forward, reminding me that by promoting excellence in agriculture, I am contributing to the prosperity and well-being of our country.

Going forward, what are your aspirations for the company?

Our plans encompass expanding our presence by establishing Eastmeat butcheries across the country, diversifying our product range, embracing sustainability, enhancing our digital presence, engaging with our communities, ensuring product quality, valuing customer feedback, and pursuing sustainable growth.

We aspire to be a trusted household name known for affordable, high-quality, and delicious livestock products while contributing positively to the communities we serve and the environment at large.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurship is a journey with a lot of challenges, but it’s also a journey of immense potential and fulfilment.

Stay committed to making a positive impact on the livelihoods of citizens, and you’ll find that your efforts are both rewarding and worthwhile. Embrace the mindset that nothing is impossible in this entrepreneurial life, and you’ll be well on your way to success.