For 34-year-old Alice Aluoch Awange, the colourful fruit stall is more than a place for business.

It is a family legacy that has provided her with a livelihood and enabled her to meet the needs of her family.

Aluoch deals in a variety of fruits available in the market, including seasonal produce sourced from different suppliers.

She says her passion for the business was nurtured from childhood after watching her parents sell fruits to support their family.

“What I am doing today is something I grew up seeing my parents do. When they stopped, the business continued through my siblings, and I became one of those who took it forward,” she says.

Through the business, Aluoch earns at least Sh2,000 on a good day, income that has helped her provide for her family and meet other household expenses.

 For her, the fruit trade has become an important source of financial stability.

The business has also created employment opportunities, with Aluoch hiring people to assist her with the physically demanding work of lifting and arranging heavy consignments whenever fresh fruits arrive from suppliers.

She receives her stock from various sources, including small-scale farmers and fellow women traders.

 The arrangement allows her to access different types of fruits depending on availability and demand in the market.

However, the business is not without challenges. Aluoch says traders sometimes have to take fruits on credit, hoping to sell them quickly and repay their suppliers from the proceeds.

Another major challenge is wastage, especially when fruits fail to attract customers before they spoil. She says the problem becomes more serious during peak seasons when large quantities of the same fruits flood the market.

“When fruits are in season, many farmers and traders bring them to the market at the same time. Sometimes it becomes difficult to clear the stock, and some fruits end up going bad,” she says.

Despite the losses, Aluoch remains committed to the trade, saying the income she generates has made a significant difference in her life and that of her family.

She believes that aspiring entrepreneurs should not wait until they have large amounts of capital before starting a business. Instead, she encourages them to begin with whatever they have and grow gradually.

“I encourage anyone who wants to start a business to begin with what they have. Even Sh200 can be a starting point. What matters is taking the first step and being committed,” she says.

Aluoch hopes to expand her business if she gets financial or other support from the government, development organisations or well-wishers.

 She says such assistance would enable her to increase her stock, improve her operations and move the enterprise to another level.

Her journey demonstrates how small businesses can provide a lifeline for families while creating opportunities for others.

For Aluoch, the fruit trade may have started as a family tradition, but it has grown into a source of income, employment and hope for a better future.

By Faith Chelang’at and Monica Irua