Njoki Ngugi: Nairobi Businesswoman Thrives In Dairy Business After Losing Job

• Njoki Ngugi (Mama Milky) is the director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Crystal Creameries Company
• The businesswoman started the milk value addition business in 2015 at a milk bar she owned in Naivasha, Nakuru county
• She later shifted to Kabati, Murang’a county and has since opened a shop at Ngara, Parklands, near Chandarana Supermarket

When Njoki Ngugi lost her job in 2016 after a foreign company she worked for shut down its operations in Kenya, she did not lose hope.

A year earlier, she had established a yoghurt production business as a side hustle. So she resorted to venturing into it fully.

Why Njoki Ngugi established Crystal Creameries

In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, Mama Milky, as she popularly referred to, revealed she founded Crystal Creameries Company, where she is the director and chief executive officer (CEO).

"I started the milk value addition business in 2015 at a milk bar I owned in Naivasha. This is after I noticed a gap in the market and the need for quality dairy products.

In 2016, the company I was working for closed down operations in Kenya. Instead of looking for another job, I opted to expand my dairy business by investing approximately KSh 600,000 of my savings," Njoki disclosed.

She shifted to Kabati, Murang’a county. She has since opened a shop at Ngara, Parklands, near Chandarana Supermarket in Nairobi.

What does Njoki Ngugi sell?

Njoki sells all kinds of milk products. On a day, she sells between 150 to 200 litres of milk.

Besides fresh milk, her other products include yoghurt (KSh 250 per litre), butter (KSh 1,000 per kilo), ghee (KSh 1,000 per kilo) and mala (KSh 150 per litre).

"We get our milk from local farmers and the market buying price. We sell between 150-200 litres per day," she expounded.

Mama Milky has employed 11 people and markets her products on social media. She cited turnover as the main challenge.

"One of the challenges is firing and hiring due to employee unreliability. Sometimes human interference leads to milk contamination. We’re looking to automate our processes to curb this fully," she said.

Mama Milky's training, advice to entrepreneurs

Mama Milky, who holds a diploma in human resource and dairy production, also offers training and consulting services to farmers and upcoming entrepreneurs.

Through her company, she has trained over 100 entrepreneurs in the dairy industry across the country.

"As the director and CEO of Crystal Creameries Company, based in Nairobi, Kenya, I have made a name for myself in the industry by providing consulting services to aspiring SMEs. Under my leadership, the company has trained over 100 successful entrepreneurs in the dairy industry. I have an upcoming Oktober Yoghurt Festival where we’ll be hosting dairy entrepreneurs at KALRO grounds, Thika on October 14," Njoki noted.

She advised upcoming businessmen and women to be patient as nothing comes easy.

"You have to be patient and work both hard and smart. The only thing you never do is give up. I have lost big time in this industry but have never given up. Network heavily with others in your industry," she concluded.

How much Meru graduates earns from dairy

In other news, Gordon Chui revealed he milks 155 to 175 litres daily.

The Chuka University graduate decided not to look for a job as he was passionate about farming, having started keeping dairy cows in 2015.

The former pig farmer who has employed one worker sells his produce to Brookside Dairies, Mt Kenya Milk and Meru Central Dairy.

How Kakamega graduate farmer makes KSh 20k

With the high unemployment rate in Kenya, graduates have turned to farming, which has a big potential.

Vincent Isambo is another graduate who resorted to farming after unsuccessfully looking for a job.

Isambo graduated from Regions Group International College with a diploma in business management in 2014.