At 49 years old, Alex Ojwang Migwala has become a beacon of hope and success for his community in Roo, Homa-bay County, Kenya. Married and a proud father of 11 children, Alex’s journey from financial uncertainty to sustainable success is nothing short of remarkable. This is the story of how one man’s fortunes turned around – a transformation made possible by his partnership with Victory Farms.
Humble beginnings
Before Victory Farms established its presence in Roo community, Alex’s days were fraught with uncertainty. He was once a fisherman on Lake Victoria but was forced to leave the trade due to unpredictable fish availability. “There were many days I returned home with nothing to show for my efforts,” says Alex. He then turned to small-scale commercial farming, working a one-acre family plot where he earned an average of KES 9,000 per month. His wife managed a modest roadside shop whose income barely supplemented their needs. At times, Alex would make stick chairs for sale, but this business was slow and yielded low, sporadic returns.
The family relied on a sooty kerosene lamp to light their home and Alex would walk 7 kilometres to Sindo town and back to Roo community every few days just to buy kerosene and charge his phone. “Those times were tough. Most days, I didn’t know how I would make ends meet.” Alex recalls.
His aspirations for his family—especially for his children—seemed out of reach.
A visionary decision
In 2016, Victory Farms’ founders, Joseph Rehmann and Steve Moran, approached Roo community with an ambitious idea: establishing a fish farm. Skepticism and hostility initially greeted the proposal, as fish farming was an unfamiliar concept. “The idea was new to us,” Alex says. “We’d never heard of a fish farm before. Some people in our community even became hostile to the founders.” However, through numerous community engagements and sensitization meetings, the proposal eventually gained acceptance from the community.
Alex was among the first to embrace the opportunity. “I gave out two acres of land,” he says proudly. “The benefits were immediate. I received half the land’s value upfront, which I used to buy another piece of land; the remaining half continues to come in as annual dividends, creating a steady income stream for me.” This decision laid the foundation for Alex’s remarkable ascent and paid off in ways he could never have imagined.
Reaping the rewards
In 2021, Victory Farms introduced the outgrower pond program, partnering with local landowners to establish broodstock ponds on their land. This marked another turning point for Alex. Recognizing the program’s potential, Alex became a pioneer partner. “By then, the entire community had seen the benefits of working with Victory Farms,” he explains. “Everyone wanted to join. I was lucky to have my first outgrower pond set up that year.”
That one pond generated KES 100,000 annually for Alex, enabling him to buy additional land. Recognizing the program’s potential, Alex expanded to two ponds in 2024, doubling his passive income to KES 200,000 per year. “I don’t have to do anything, yet I earn KES 200,000 annually,” he says with a smile. “And I still own the land where the ponds are.”
Alex standing in front of his two ponds.
Beyond financial freedom
With newfound financial stability, Alex transformed every aspect of his life. He revitalized his roadside shop, managed by his wife, increasing monthly profits to between KES 12,000 and 19,000, thanks to Victory Farms employees who are his regular customers.
A solar system now lights his home, transforming his family’s quality of life. “The bright, safe light has made a huge difference for my children, especially with their studies,” he shares. Alex’s firstborn, a 22-year-old girl studying Tourism and Management at Karatina University in Kenya, is now in her second year. His second and third children attend boarding secondary schools. The remaining children attend private schools and daycares within Roo community—a dream Alex once thought unattainable.
Alex has also ventured into horticulture, cultivating watermelons, bananas and vegetables on the lands he acquired. During a good season, he earns up to KES 160,000. Furthermore, he has built a five-door rental unit on his property, generating an additional KES 7,500 monthly.
Alex inspecting his watermelon farm.
Alex’s early-stage tomato farm.
Alex’s banana and vegetables farm.
A thriving community
Alex’s success is mirrored throughout Roo community. According to Alex, before Victory Farms came, Roo community grappled with widespread unemployment, youth alcoholism, charcoal burning and robbery with violence. Today, Victory Farms has provided stable employment to local youths, reducing the prevalence of illegal activities and traditional alcohol consumption. According to Alex, living standards in Roo community has profoundly improved. Many residents have upgraded from mud-walled, grass-thatched houses to cement and iron-roof homes. Rental units targeting Victory Farms employees are springing up, both in Roo community and Sindo town, further boosting the local economy.
“The change is palpable,” Alex observes. “Our youths now have jobs, and crime is almost unheard of. Most families, like mine, have transitioned to cement houses with iron roofs.”
Looking ahead with a grateful heart
Alex’s ambitions continue to grow. He is currently building a bigger three-bedroom permanent house. After completing this new project, he plans to expand his ventures by acquiring more land for additional outgrower ponds. “From the very first year I partnered with Victory Farms, my life has been a success story,” Alex reflects with gratitude. “I no longer worry about school fees, healthcare, or putting food on the table. Victory Farms has given my family a future we never thought possible.”
Alex standing in front of his new 3-bedroom house under construction.
Alex’s story is a powerful reminder that when we take advantage of the right opportunities, we unlock boundless possibilities for a better future.