Risky Businesses in Kenya

Some endevours are bound to succeed but others are absolutely destined to fail. Whether it is because of the high cost of electricity in Kenya or high cost of inputs, here are some of the most risky businesses to start in Kenya. These are businesses that will fail long before they are started. They are high risk businesses that no insurance company will dream of insuring.

Pesa Mashinani takes this chance to inform all investors of the ventures they ought not to invest their money in. Past experiences of investors who have suffered huge losses is what is shaping this discussion.

1.  Poultry farming
It started as a get-rich quick business but it was a sector that was heavily affected by the invisible hands of demand and supply. Many small investors in Kenya entered this business sector in 2006/2007 due to demand for poultry meat in many towns in Kenya. Hotels soon experienced a short increase in supply of poultry and the market price started to fall.

Suppliers of poultry feeds increased the prices of their products due to the abrupt shoot in demand for chick mash and related products.

With the prices of poultry falling in the market and the cost of chicken feeds rising, many investors soon realized that they made a poor investment decision.

If you are an investor, don’t even think of investing in poultry farming in 2015 unless you own your own hotel.


2.   Pig farming
The swine business started also as a get-rich quick business. However, this business has turned out to be a loss making business. The low returns and losses suffered in the pig farming sector is largely due to the high cost of feeds and medication for the pigs.

3.  Trucks for hire
New investors who are trying to enter the trucks for hire business should invest their money elsewhere. Trucks for hire business in Kenya is not only expensive to start but it is also plagued with corruption and fuel siphoning.

Many drivers will siphon fuel from your trucks and engage the free gear when driving downhill just to save some more fuel for siphoning.

The nature of Kenyan drivers (those who will work for you and those in the road) makes this business to be a risky business venture. The business will hit a snag the day the truck driver will cause an accident and the insurance companies turn your claims for compensation into long court battles.


The only successful investors who are in this sector have the time to closely monitor their trucks and drivers. Some of the investors are drivers themselves.

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