Caleb Karuga, a former K24 journalist, recently reached another key milestone in his entrepreneurial path.
Karuga, who began his farming operation about ten years ago, has now expanded into the world of coffee by opening his own café specializing in this aromatic beverage, Coffee 254, on the Thogoto/Dagoretti Road.
Karuga conveyed his delight on his social media sites, as well as the difficulties he experienced in realizing his desire.
“Finally! After five years of praying, planning, procrastinating & lots of giving up on this dream – by God’s grace today we officially launch Coffee 254,” he joyfully announced.
Karuga’s most recent success fell on his birthday, making it an extra special event for the enterprising businessman. His tenacity and commitment have lead him to this historic achievement.
The rise of Caleb Karuga after being fired from K24
Having abandoned his IT degree course midway, Karuga’s journey has taken him from a journalist to a thriving farmer.
It was Karuga’s stint at K24 TV that served as a catalyst for his foray into farming.
Reflecting on an eye-opening interview he conducted, Karuga realized the potential of agribusiness. He encountered a mole catcher who revealed that his earnings amounted to Sh90,000, surpassing Karuga’s own salary at the time.
After being retrenched in 2013, Karuga received a severance package of Sh1.3 million. He wisely utilized this sum to expand his farming enterprise, fueling its growth and success.
He currently manages three farms where he keeps a diverse range of livestock, including thousands of indigenous chickens, quails, guinea fowls, bees and dairy goats.
In addition to animal husbandry, Karuga also cultivates crops such as butternut, strawberries, sweet potatoes, and sunflowers.
In addition to his farming ventures, Karuga has also established a strong presence on YouTube and other social media platforms where he shares valuable farming tips and insights.
His expertise in the field has garnered him ambassadorial roles with various agriculture-related companies, further solidifying his influence in the agricultural sector.
In a previous interview, Karuga mentioned that he had acquired a great deal of learning throughout his journey, which enabled him to make informed decisions.
He emphasized his belief in embracing the learning curve and not taking personal offence when a venture fails.
“I believe in going through the learning curve. When a venture fails, I don’t take it personally. It is the business that has failed, not me. I might have made a mistake, but I choose to keep on the ball. I don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary situations,” he stated.