Geoffrey Musembi once dreamt of being a techie. As an information technology graduate from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), he saw himself in sleek offices, bustling urban scenes and a fast-paced digital world.
But the reality was different. Geoffrey found himself wandering the bustling streets of the capital with a degree in hand but no luck finding a job.
The situation was exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19, which forced many organisations to allow their staff to work from home.
"In 2018, I left JKUAT with my IT degree, full of ambition and ready to make my mark. The plan was simple: find a job in Nairobi, build a life, and start my career. But Nairobi had other ideas. For two years, I hustled, grabbing whatever gigs came my way—tech projects here, odd jobs there," Mr Musembi says.
After months of relentless searching, he began to wonder if he'd misplaced his dreams in the wrong city. Disheartened, Geoffrey packed his bags and returned to his rural home in Kasinga, Machakos County, a village tucked away among the rolling hills and green fields he had once left behind in pursuit of city life.
"By 2020, my savings were running out and so was my patience. I realised that staying in Nairobi without a stable income was draining me," he says.
Back home, he was greeted with the warm, familiar comfort of community and nature. But the question of what to do next loomed over him.
"The village was quiet, the air fresh and the pace slower - a stark contrast to the city life I had once dreamed of. At first I felt lost, unsure of what to do next," he recalls.
One night, while scrolling through YouTube, he came across a fascinating video shared by a friend, showing a farmer in India growing azolla, a small, fast-growing fern that can be used as fodder.
"I'd never heard of azolla before. But now I'm convinced it's green gold," he says.
Intrigued, Mr Musembi watched more videos and researched day and night. The more he learned, the more he realised that azolla could be a game changer for local farmers struggling with high feed and fertiliser costs, as well as for vegetable growers.
"I watched the video twice, then more videos, and kept on researching. By the end of the night, I had an idea - why not try azolla farming myself?" he says. With just Sh1,000 to spend on azolla seeds, Mr Musembi decided to give it a go.
Azolla at Geoffery Musembi's farm in Machakos County pictured on October 30, 2024.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
Requirements for growing azolla
He cleared a small area of his family's land and built his first azolla pond. His online research told him that for a five-metre pond he would need five kilogrammes of dry cow dung to enrich the water.
As his pond was smaller, he only needed one kilogramme of cow dung to create the perfect growing environment for azolla.
"The size of the pond depends on the number of species grown, the need for supplements and the availability of resources," he says.
"Starting an azolla pond seemed like a big leap, but I was determined. I chose a small piece of land near my home and set to work. I levelled the ground, lined a four-by-six-foot pond and filled it with fresh water, keeping the depth at four to six inches, as advised. I mixed sifted soil with cow dung to enrich the water, then added my first kilogramme of azolla culture," he says.
"The fern grew more quickly than I expected. Within two weeks the pond was green, thick and ready for harvest," he adds.
This, however depends on the quality of the culture used, climatic conditions and nutrient levels.
"To prepare it, I harvest it, wash it to remove any odour. Then I either mix it with the feed immediately or dry it for storage. It is high in protein and increases biomass and egg production," he adds.
Harvesting and feeding azolla
By the 14th day, he was ready to harvest.
"Harvest azolla by scooping it out of the pond by hand or using a plastic sieve. Shade your pond to avoid direct sunlight, which turns it brownish-red and reduces nutrient levels. Partial shade also helps to minimise evaporation and encourage growth," he says.
Mr Musembi has set up a daily harvesting schedule, picking about eight kilos of azolla a day, totalling about 200 kilos a month.
At Sh1,000 per kilo, his sales to local poultry and fish farmers quickly added up. Within weeks, word of his unique feed alternative had spread throughout the village.
"Using azolla can reduce feeding costs by 50 percent by mixing it with regular feed in a 1:1 ration. This significantly reduces costs, especially for poultry farmers," says Mr Musembi.
Geoffery Musembi’s poultry feeding on Azolla at his farm Machakos County on October 30, 2024
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
The 27-year-old has adopted this approach himself, washing and drying azolla to store for future use. Not only has he helped his family's small poultry farm, he has also changed the feeding practices of the entire community.
Pond maintenance
Routine pond maintenance became part of his schedule. Every two weeks he adds another five kilogrammes of manure to the water to keep the azolla thriving. He soon discovered that the residual water from the azolla ponds, rich in nitrogen and phosphate, was an excellent fertiliser for his vegetable garden, especially leafy greens.
It was an unexpected bonus that enriched the land around him and made his whole farm more productive.
"To keep the pond in good condition, add nutrients to the pond every two to three weeks, regularly remove invasive aquatic plants, and ensure that you empty the pond every six months and restart the cultivation with fresh soil and a new culture of azolla," says Mr Musembi.
Facing challenges
Despite the low-maintenance nature of the farm, he admits that he does face some challenges, especially with climate change.
"Frogs from a nearby river were a nuisance, often jumping into the pond and threatening the delicate balance of the azolla. The harsh midday sun also threatened to dry out his crop, so he considered erecting shade nets or raising the ponds off the ground," he says.
But with each hurdle, Mr Musembi became more resilient. His project has become not only a source of income, but also a mission.
He has since started sharing his journey on social media, helping other young people in similar situations to learn about azolla farming. "I have been approached by local farmers and aspiring young entrepreneurs who want advice on how to start their own azolla ponds. I also give professional training," he says.
Community transformation
Six years after graduating, Mr Musembi no longer sees his time in Nairobi as a failure. Instead, it was a stepping stone to a career he could never have imagined.
By returning to his roots, he has found purpose and created a thriving business that combines technology with traditional farming practices. His IT degree, once a symbol of struggle, is helping him connect with the world beyond his village, and through azolla farming he is transforming not only his own life, but that of his community.
