Nairobi News

The Women Challenged to Challenge Group was started in 2001 by Jane Kihungi and Josephat Mkobe to advocate the rights of disabled women.

But six years later, it ventured into production of peanut butter.

“We blend peanuts to make butter and sell to earn a living,” said Violet Guwayo.

Previously, the group used to have the peanuts milled at an outsourced plant but Safaricom came to their aid  and bought them a milling machine which has enabled them to work from their workshop at the National Council for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD) on Waiyaki Way.

In a month, they make about Sh24,500, a profit of about Sh9,5000.

“We buy a sack of peanuts at Sh15,000,” she said.

A sack makes about 70 kilos of butter while a kilo of butter retails at Sh350. They sell the butter through group members since supermarkets offer unfriendly rates, she said.

Earnings

The door-to-door sales strategy has however slowed down their business, but Guwayo noted that people love their product because of its originality and has no preservatives.

“The sales may be slow but we sell anyway,” said Guwayo, who is the group’s mill operator.  From the proceeds, the group gives interest free loans to members who have now grown to 1,000.

“This group has enabled me to educate my children especially after my husband lost his job.  I have also seen members’ lives transformed,” she added.

They also get support from the NCPWD especially in taking the peanut butter samples for testing in the laboratories.

The tests help them know the quality and the expiry date. The workshop is operated by four ladies.