After 14 years as a financial auditor on Wall Street, James Kahiga sought deeper meaning and fulfillment. His journey led him back to Kenya, where he found a new passion in Dorper sheep farming.
For Kahiga, the move from Wall Street to sheep farming in Kenya was more than a career change—it was a profound lifestyle shift. In 2008, he married Beth Ann, a non-profit leader, and together they realized the high-pressure American lifestyle was affecting their well-being.
Seeking tranquility and purpose, they turned to Kenya, where Kahiga’s childhood experiences inspired his new venture in Dorper sheep farming, according to Mwakilishi.
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At 14, he bought three sheep—a venture that failed but taught him crucial lessons about investment and agriculture. Initially drawn to goat farming, he eventually chose Dorper sheep, a South African breed famed for its meat quality, rapid growth, and disease resistance.
Preparing for this new path, Kahiga invested in education and practical experience. He studied at Michigan and Oklahoma State Universities, volunteered on Dorper sheep farms, and researched zero grazing, vaccinations, and animal husbandry.
Kahiga’s dedication to innovation and sustainable agriculture was evident in his thorough approach to learning. Managing a Kenyan sheep farm from the U.S. became one of the key challenges he had to deal with, prompting his frequent trips to Kenya.
There, he founded Capri Dorper Farm in Nyandarua County’s Kasuku region, where he began with ten sheep and a farmhand. Kahiga soon realized the importance of hands-on involvement in farm operations.
Today, Capri Dorper Farm thrives with 150 purebred and crossbred Dorper sheep. Operating on a zero-grazing model, the farm feeds its flock a maize silage diet produced on-site, supplemented with nutritional concentrates. This method ensures optimal health and growth while effectively managing costs and resources.
The Kahigas are well-positioned to meet Kenya’s growing demand for Dorper sheep meat, offering high-quality South African Dorper sheep at competitive prices.
The duo have extended their commitment beyond Capri Dorper Farm by supporting Nyandarua’s sheep farmers through educational visits and sharing insights on management practices, vaccination protocols, and animal health.
Collaborating with animal health consultants, they reinforce their livestock management strategies.
Their dedication to high health and safety standards is evident in their thorough investigations of any unexplained sheep deaths, including detailed examinations at the Ministry of Livestock lab in Nakuru.
