At a busy corner of Kericho town towards the Kiprugut Chumo Stadium, the rhythmic sound of a machete slicing through thick sugarcane draws a steady stream of customers ready to taste the finger licking slices of sugarcane which one Fred Osiro sells comfortably from his wheelbarrow. The 35-year-old sugarcane seller’s simple trade has become a thriving business and a symbol of daily survival within the streets of Kericho Town with his slices of sugarcane preferred by most passersby due to his level of cleanliness and friendly interactions with people.
Osiro who spoke exclusively to Kenya News Agency revealed that he sets up his makeshift early each morning at around 6:30am near the matatu stage armed with freshly harvested sugarcane, a sharp panga, and a wide smile to attract customers whom he says have uplifted his life tremendously since he started the venture.
The enterprising man intimated that by midday, the sweet scent of peeled sugarcane wafts through the air luring school children, boda boda riders, matatu drivers, market vendors among others who promote his business earning him at least Sh1500 daily.
“I started this business five years ago with only Sh200. I bought a few sugarcanes, stood by the roadside and hoped for the best and what began as a temporary hustle has grown into a full-time source of income that supports my wife and children, said Osiro
Osiro further said that he gets his sugarcane from Kipkelion, and ensures that he has enough stock for the week, kept fresh and ready for consumption.
“For now, I prefer stocking sugarcane in my house since it is safe and cost effective but in future when I expand the business, I may consider renting a stall in town for stocking purposes,” Osiro added.
Despite working under adverse weather conditions like heavy rains in the afternoons and at times scorching sun, Osiro remains resilient saying his job has taught him patience, discipline and customer care.
“Sometimes it’s not about selling, it’s about listening to the people, joking with them and basically creating and maintaining a good relationship with them that will keep them coming back,’’ remarked Osiro
He further said that during the weekend and market days, he sells double the stock and now plans to expand his business in the near future to diversify his products and services to serve more people.
“Very soon, I will invest in a proper juice stall with blenders and branded packaging since I want to grow and also do some value addition to the sugarcane,” Osiro said.
Osiro further disclosed that in future, he would want to have a proper structure where his customers could sit comfortably and enjoy fresh juice and fruits lamenting that heavy rains more often than not disrupts his business especially in the afternoon hours.
His journey is not only one of financial success, but also a testament to resilience and determination arising from a period of joblessness.
He has carved out a profitable livelihood through hard work and perseverance and now urges unemployed youth to seek honest means of eking a living, steering clear of crime and gambling and instead pursuing opportunities that could lead to sustainable income.
“I only reached Standard 8 due to financial constraints as my parents couldn’t afford to support my education and since then, I’ve hustled relentlessly trying out various informal jobs like working at construction sites as a loader among other hard jobs and eventually, I discovered my niche in business and today, I can proudly say I’m content with the path I chose,” said Osiro.
