Ephraim Okeyo is the founder of Kono Farm, an innovative company dedicated to the cultivation of edible snails, located along Kangundo Road in Nairobi.
Seeing a vacuum in the market, he founded Kono Farm in 2021, focused on snail farming for its multiple nutritional benefits.
Okeyo’s objective is to provide an alternate protein supply and reduce reliance on traditional cattle.
Snail meat is high in protein, but it also contains Vitamin A, Omega-3 fatty acids, and iron, all while being low in fat.
He recommends its consumption, particularly among lactating moms and diabetics.
Okeyo’s farm, encompassing an 18-meter by 8-meter plot of ground, houses six cages built to house up to 300 snails each in a relatively untapped market in Kenya.
His interest in snail farming stems from his childhood experiences in Kayole, Nairobi, where food deprivation was a common occurrence.
To set up his farm, Okeyo attended a three-day training session at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Obtaining a permission from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was necessary, as snails are classified as wild animals.
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Despite some initial hiccups and a steep learning curve, Okeyo’s perseverance paid off.
Understanding the optimal circumstances for snail farming, including housing, feeding and environmental parameters, was critical.
Elevated wooden enclosures protected snails from predators, while unique soil and banana leaves provided an ideal home.
Water troughs kept them watered, and Ephraim fed them leftover fruits and vegetables to keep food expenditures low.
Okeyo confronts the difficulty of satisfying increased demand for snail meat among Asian and Western African expats in Kenyan hotels and restaurants, where it is considered a delicacy.
Live snails are offered for Ksh 2,500 per kilo, while butchered ones cost Ksh 3,000.
In a unique move, Okeyo enters the beauty and cosmetics sector by selling snail mucus (slime), which is known for its antioxidant characteristics.
The shells, which contain calcium carbonate, are utilized as raw materials in animal feed.
Looking ahead, Okeyo is developing value-added facilities for meat processing, with hopes to introduce snail-based burgers and pizzas.
