According to Standard Digital, the disease resistant chicken that weighs twice as much as conventional breeds is enjoying impressive uptake among poultry farmers in the county for economic empowerment.

The Kuchi bird originally from Lamu, first introduced in the region in 2009 is being used to upgrade the other local breeds and for cross breeding.

Beatrice Koech, Secretary of Mwanganza Women's Group in Anin Location says each of their 15 members have about 20 hens each from their initial capital of two cocks and five hens.

She said they sell the birds at Sh1500 and Sh2000 for the hen and cock respectively when fully matured while eggs retail at Sh30 compared to Sh8 to Sh10 of other breeds.

"These birds are uniquely heavy compared to all other breeds and very aggressive while protecting their chicks from predators like eagles," she explained.

The farmer notes that they have already sold many birds whose proceeds have been used for paying children's school fees and home keeping.

"They are free-range birds just like the rest and eat ordinary food like grass, kales, maize making them very economical to keep," she offered.

William Bore, Keiyo North Sub-County Livestock Production Officer says the birds were introduced in the District courtesy of the effort of a staff that visited Lamu and got interested in the birds.

"We introduced 40 birds to seven groups in the larger Keiyo and Marakwet regions through the JICA and Ministry of Agriculture under the Community Agricultural Development Project in Semi -Arid Lands," he explained.