From One WhatsApp Message to Two KLJ160 Machines and a Chaff Cutter
In July 2026, a farmer near Nairobi messaged us about "a pellet machine for my farm." A month later, two KLJ160 pellet machines and a chaff cutter were on a ship to Mombasa - for his own cows and chickens, not a factory.
We write a lot of buying guides. This is the real thing: what a Nairobi farmer asked, what we answered, what he bought, and how it was packed. If you are thinking about making your own feed, this is more useful than any spec sheet.
It Started With One Photo
The first message was short. No company name, no catalog request - just a farmer and a photo of his maize store:
"Hello, I need a pellet machine for my farm near Nairobi. I have maize and napier grass."
He runs a mixed farm - dairy cows and poultry. Commercial feed was eating his margin, and the raw material was already on hand. His first questions were the honest ones every farmer asks:
- Will it press pure maize, or does it need mixing?
- Does it run on single-phase power? His farm has no three-phase.
- If he buys two, can he run two recipes at once?
- Can it also take chopped napier grass?
We answered with working videos, not promises. The KLJ160 is small, single-phase, 3 kW, about 80-120 kg/h on a 4 mm die - right for a family farm.
Why Two Machines, Not One Bigger One
He first asked for one larger model. We suggested two KLJ160 units instead:
- Two recipes, two machines: layer pellets and dairy concentrate stay separate, no die cleaning between batches.
- No downtime: animals eat daily; if one machine needs a new die, the other keeps running.
- Cheaper, and single-phase: two small units cost less than one mid-size mill and need no three-phase connection.
He agreed next day - and added one chaff cutter to chop napier grass into the dairy mix.
2 x KLJ160 pellet machine, single phase, 4 mm die (+ 2.5 mm spare)
1 x chaff cutter for napier grass
To Mombasa, Kenya
Tested, Then Packed
Every machine is test-run in our Zhengzhou workshop before it is cased. His two KLJ160 units ran on maize flour so he could see his own machines working - not a demo unit - before they were packed.
The Shipping Mark on the Crate
In late August the order was cased in fumigation-free wooden boxes. On a container with hundreds of cases moving through Mombasa, the short code we wrote on the crate - NICO+8/21 - is how his clearing agent finds his machines. (NICO is just the consignee code; we keep customer names private.)
From Zhengzhou the cases went by sea to Mombasa; his agent cleared and delivered inland. We sent the bill of lading and packing list the day the container loaded - no surprises at the port.
What Other Nairobi Farmers Can Take From This
- Start with your own farm. He sized the machines for his animals first. Selling surplus to neighbours comes later.
- Match the power. Single-phase is the reality on most farms around Nairobi - every machine here runs on it.
- Roughage is part of the plan. A chaff cutter for napier grass keeps dairy ration costs down - that is why it was on the same order.
Full detail in our feed pellet mill guide and the Kenya buyer guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a small feed pellet machine cost in Kenya?
A single-phase KLJ160-class machine is roughly USD 300-500 ex-works, before sea freight to Mombasa. See current models on our feed pellet machine page.
Can the KLJ160 make layer pellets for poultry?
Yes. With a 2.5-4 mm die it makes small, firm layer pellets. Maize-based formulas with soybean meal work well at about 15-18% moisture.
Do you ship to Mombasa and handle the documents?
Regularly, FOB or CIF. You get the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading; your clearing agent handles port clearance and inland delivery.
Planning Your Own Feed Setup?
Tell us your animals, raw materials and power supply - we will recommend the same way we did here: videos, honest answers, machines tested before packing.
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