Banana chips are one of the easiest snack businesses to start in Kenya because the raw materials are cheap and the equipment required is minimal. With careful budgeting, you can start a small home-based banana chips venture with only KSh 5,000.

Below is a practical beginner guide.

1. Buy Raw Bananas

Start with green bananas or plantains, which produce crisp chips.

Example purchase

• 1 small bunch (15–20 kg) → KSh 500–700

This quantity can produce about:

• 6–8 kg of banana chips

2. Basic Equipment (Low Budget)

Instead of buying expensive machines, use simple kitchen tools.

Total startup cost: ~ KSh 4,500 – 5,000You can upgrade later with:

• Banana slicer
• Heat sealer
• Larger fryer

3. Simple Production Process

Step 1 – Peel bananas

Remove the banana peel and place the bananas in salt water to prevent browning.

Step 2 – Slice thinly

Slice bananas into very thin pieces using a knife or slicer.

Step 3 – Fry

Heat cooking oil and fry the slices until golden and crispy.

Step 4 – Drain oil

Remove chips and place on paper or sieve to remove excess oil.

Step 5 – Add seasoning

Add salt or sugar depending on your market preference.

4. Packaging

You can start with simple transparent snack bags.

Example sizes:

• 50 g packs
• 100 g packs

Use a candle flame or simple heat to seal the plastic if you don’t yet have a sealing machine.

5. Selling Price

Typical prices in Kenya:

6. Profit Example

From 20 kg bananas

• Chips produced → about 8 kg

If packed in 50 g packs:

• 8 kg → 160 packets

Selling at KSh 20 per packet

Revenue:

• 160 × 20 = KSh 3,200

Production cost:

• ~KSh 1,500

Profit per batch: ~ KSh 1,700

If you produce 3 batches per week:

• Weekly profit ≈ KSh 5,000

7. Where to Sell Banana Chips

Best beginner markets:

• Schools
• Kiosks
• Small shops
• Bus parks
• Markets
• Office snack vendors

You can also sell through Facebook groups or WhatsApp neighbourhood groups.

8. When to Register the Business

When supplying supermarkets or shops, you may eventually need certification from the Kenya Bureau of Standards and food safety licensing from the Ministry of Health.

For small local sales, many people begin informally and formalize once the business grows.

9. Growth Strategy

Once profits start coming in:

Reinvest in:

• Banana slicer (KSh 2,000)
• Heat sealer (KSh 2,500)
• Branding labels
• Better packaging

These upgrades allow you to enter supermarkets and increase profits.

✅ Reality: Many Kenyan snack vendors started with less than KSh 5,000 and scaled into businesses supplying shops and schools.