KDF, the mandazi and not the Kenya Defense Forces, is the most sought after ‘tea escort’ in most homes today.
But as KDF lovers consume their breakfast delight, Casper Nyagaka the brains behind this snack has been smiling all the way to the bank since he invented.
“I started baking kangumu in 2014 at Kawangware area, the business was not bad but next to me was a Ugandan man who used to make softer ones.
“With time I realized he was giving me stiff competition and I asked for his recipe. But the Ugandan refused,” he said.
Determined, Nyagaka travelled to Uganda to research on the business and after visiting a few bakeries, a newly acquired friend offered to teach him.
“To understand more about my passion, my buddy travelled back to Kenya with me and we set up a new shop in Huruma area, far away from my first competition,” he said.
It is here, that Nyagaka baked his first kangumus and christened them KDF, “The name KDF does not stand for anything and has no links with the Kenyan Defense Forces,” the form four dropout says.
According to Nyagaka, KDF became a household name first within Huruma; customers would queue at his ‘factory’ every morning. Meanwhile, his business was growing.
And with time, Nyagaka increased production and hired more employees to meet the growing demand. Today, he has 70 employees working 24 hours at his bakery.
“The staff works day and night to cook about 100,000 pieces daily. Preparation of KDF does not require much skill other than measuring and cutting the mandazi pieces into equal pieces,” he said.
The pieces are then shaped, deep fried for five minutes and packaged for market. Each pack retailing at Sh.50, carries six pieces. KDF has a week’s shelf life.
At the moment Nyagaka supplies Nairobi, Naivasha, Kitengela and its environs. He also uses riders to do deliveries around Nairobi.
This sees him pocket about Sh.50,000 on a good day but sometimes power outage slows him down.
*Written By*: Justine Nyachieo
Business Man & Mentor
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