Njuki-ini, the Kenyan farm that found its niche in ornamental fish

Njuki-ini Fish Farm, launched during the Covid-19 pandemic in Sagana, central Kenya, has grown into a family-run operation specializing in ornamental fish while expanding aquaculture opportunities. Pastor Charles Kariuki started the business when lockdowns reduced employment and forced closures elsewhere, using newfound time to begin fish farming with his son Kelvin, a farm manager, and other family members and employees. The farm runs 15 ponds and produces about 100,000 fish annually: roughly 50,000 tilapia, 20,000 catfish, and 30,000 ornamental fish including koi carp, goldfish, Black Moor and red carp. It sells tilapia and catfish fingerlings to other farmers and plans to add processing in the future.