FROM TEA FARMS TO THE KITCHEN: MERCY’S JOURNEY TO HER DREAM
In the quiet, hilly village of Kipsebwo in Nandi County, the story of Mercy Jepkoech is one of courage, hard work, and hope.
For years, Mercy worked as a tea plucker, moving from one farm to the next under the sun and in the rain, just to earn a living. The days were long, the pay was little, but she never gave up on her dream — to one day wear a chef’s coat and cook in a real kitchen.
Today, that dream is finally within reach.
Mercy is one of over 350 students graduating from Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) across Nandi County through the KCB 2jiajiri programme, a partnership between KCB Foundation and the Nandi County Government. She trained in Hospitality at St. Augustine Kipsebwo VTC, where she learned not just how to cook, but how to present food with passion, skill, and confidence.
“When I joined the VTC, I didn’t even know how to hold a kitchen knife properly,” Mercy says with a laugh. “Now I can prepare full-course meals, bake cakes, and even serve in a professional setting. It has changed my life completely.”
The KCB 2jiajiri programme gave her more than just skills. It gave her a second chance — to dream again, to plan a future, and to walk away from casual labor that had trapped her for so long.
As she walks across the graduation stage in her chef’s uniform, Mercy’s smile says it all. She is no longer just a tea plucker. She is now a trained chef, ready to take on the world.
“My dream is to start my own small catering business and maybe one day open a restaurant,” she says. “I want to employ other young people like me who just need someone to believe in them.”
Mercy’s journey is just one among hundreds, but it carries a powerful message: with the right support, skills, and opportunity, young people can transform their lives.