From Job Seeker to Pig Farming Pioneer: The JJ-Pig Farm Story

For over a decade, Jared Owino, a university graduate and father of six, searched tirelessly for formal employment. Each year brought new applications, interviews, and disappointments. But the breakthrough he longed for wasn’t in an office — it was waiting for him at home.

In 2022, Jared’s wife Judith, a resilient vegetable vendor and member of a local women’s savings group, introduced him to the Women Business Hub (WBH). She had a vision: to turn their backyard pig pen into a thriving enterprise. With her encouragement, Jared agreed to manage the farm full-time. Using Judith’s savings and a US$2,000 loan facilitated through WBH’s Trade Over Aid Initiative, they launched JJ-Pig Farm.

What began with a handful of piglets quickly grew into a disciplined, high-yield operation. Jared brought structure, record-keeping, and daily oversight. Judith handled feed sourcing, budgeting, and reinvestment. Together, they built a business rooted in trust, grit, and shared purpose.

By late 2025, JJ-Pig Farm had crossed the 1 million Kenyan shilling mark in cumulative sales. Their pigs supplied local markets, schools, and butcheries. Now, they’re preparing to open branded pork meat outlets and restaurants across Kisumu and neighbouring towns — a bold step in diversifying their family income.

“All our children MUST learn farming as our family investment,” Jared and Judith insist. “Even if they pursue other careers, they must understand the value of what we’ve built.”

Jared reflects on his journey with humility and clarity:

“I wasted 10 years chasing unknown opportunities. My success was waiting for me in farming. Judith’s small vegetable business and her savings group taught me that success isn’t about having a degree — it’s about having the right mindset, passion, and total commitment.”

Today, JJ-Pig Farm stands as a testament to what happens when families become true business partners. Jared and Judith credit WBH for turning their lives around — not just financially, but in dignity, purpose, and legacy.

Comments

Why it is important to strengthen the Systems of community based organizations

Community organizations and networks are uniquely positioned to interact with affected communities, respond quickly to community needs and issues, and engage with affected and vulnerable groups. They offer direct services to communities while also advocating for better programming and policy environments. This allows them to influence the development, reach, implementation, and oversight of public systems and policies, as well as the contribution of a community to health.

Dorcas’s Journey of Dignity and Growth through Women Business Hub - Trade Over Aid (TOA) Initiative

When Dorcas first walked into the Women Business Hub orientation, she carried more than just hope—she carried the weight of responsibility. With two young children depending on her, and a dream of running her own shop, the Ksh 50,000 loan was more than money; it was a lifeline. She remembers the first day vividly: sitting in the financial literacy session, learning how to budget and save. Signing the loan agreement felt like signing a promise to her children—that life would change. With her first tranche of Ksh 15,000 , Dorcas stocked sugar, soap, and maize flour . Each sale was a step closer to dignity. Within weeks, she was repaying faithfully. But more importantly, she was proving to herself that she could manage credit responsibly. When she qualified for the second tranche , Dorcas expanded into farming inputs . Neighbors began to rely on her shop not just for household goods, but for seeds and fertilizer that sustained their families. Her progress report wasn’t just number...

Building Grassroots Organizations' Capabilities for Effective Service Delivery

AMREF Health Africa developed the Organizational Development and Systems Strengthening (ODSS) curriculum to address the capacity needs of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in implementing quality interventions to address the social determinants of health among vulnerable and marginalized communities. Women Business Hub Executive Director https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-odongo-ojuang/ has been one of the lead facilitator in the ODSS training in Kenya supported by Amref Health Africa with Funds from Global Fund. https://photos.app.goo.gl/VX9PeqkcFuEMySTi6

WOMEN BUSINESS HUB -ADVOCACY ALLIANCE CONSORTIUM

Search This Blog