When Pauline Njoroge's health started failing, she had to think of a way to raise money for treatment and boost her immunity.
She needed Sh10,000 every time she visited the doctor who was treating her for blood pressure and heart problems.
Njoroge, now 55, confided in her sister about the struggles she was undergoing trying to raise money for her treatment.
That was around 2009. At the time she was working at Faulu Bank and raising money for her treatment was no mean feat.
Her sister introduced her to herbs and supplements to boost her health.
The single mother of two then decided to venture into selling natural supplements such as hibiscus, eucalyptus and moringa to get money for her expensive medication.
“I stopped working at the bank in 2009 to focus on selling supplements and herbs that my sister introduced me to. At the time I could not afford medication which used to cost me around Sh10,000 every time I would visit the doctors for my ailment,” Njoroge says.
Njoroge, who lives in Kwambira village, Limuru, in Kiambu county, partnered with her sister to start the business, now known as Three Hebrews.
When KNA caught up with her during a farmers' expo in Ndumberi she said selling herbal products and supplements was now her full-time business.
"We mainly focus on selling ginger, moringa, chia seeds, turmeric, hibiscus, eucalyptus and baobab. Our current focus market is at the Kenol station in Zambezi and Kiambu town," Njoroge says.
She says their target market is low and middle class Kenyans who want their products in small quantities.
Besides selling the products, they also educate their customers on the benefits of the herbs.
“We do this to help those who are undergoing the struggles of health issues just as I did,” Njoroge says.
She says they advise their customers to be patient as some people are in a hurry to see results. Njoroge says herbal treatment should be continuous and those who are patient reap the benefits.
During the peak of Covid-19 in 2020, Njoroge says, they expanded their business because the demand for supplements tremendously increased as people sought to boost their immune system.
Most of the herbs are grown locally, she explains. She says they get them from various farms around the country and process them in a clean environment before selling.
“Three Hebrews’ products are approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards and our products are sufficient. We also deliver to both supermarkets and hotels," Njoroge says.
"Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. The business has encountered challenges such as doubt from people, especially when it comes to convincing those dependent on prescribed drugs."
She says the business has more advantages than disadvantages as she is now able to bring up a healthy family and provide for them.
"My children are doing well in school and the herbs help in developing their minds," she says.
Njoroge says moringa leaves have more vitamins compared to normal oranges and more potassium than bananas.
“This herb manages both type 1 and 2 diabetes and builds on muscles. Baobab supplement has fibre content that helps in digestive health and balancing sugar levels.”
Njoroge says they earn between Sh7,000 and Sh10,000 daily when the market is favourable.
She hopes to start a big company that distributes the herbs locally and internationally in the next five years.
Njoroge urges the government to provide machines for cleaning some of the herbal products such as chia seeds to avoid depending on other countries.
She has also asked Kenyans to use herbs and supplements to improve their health.
Edited by A.N
