Raila, Kalonzo Praise
Ngilu’s Ndengu Revolution
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| Kitui Governor Kaluki Ngilu with Gov Kivutha Kibwana, Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka during a rally at the Kitui Bus Park today |
By Munyasya Musya & Barrack Muli
Nasa Luminaries Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka today praised Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu’s pet project the Ndengu Revolution as a game changer towards food security and wealth creation for farmers in the county.The two leaders said the project was well thought out and ideal food production initiative that could generate billions of shillings in returns to the people of Kitui County besides provision of ample food supplies.
They said that the people in the drought and famine prone area often depend on famine relief adding that Ngilu’s initiative had brought a reversal of the scenario owing to unprecedented bumper green gram harvest.
They were speaking when they presided over the opening ceremony of Kitui Villa Hotel in Kitui town which is owned by US based Kenyan scholar Prof. Makau Mutua.
Raila said during his recent visit to Indian, he held negotiations with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who promised to lift an embargo on import of Kenyan green grams and purchase at least 100,000 tonnes of green grams from Kitui County.
“When I visited India recently with my wife Ida, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceded that he had agreed with Governor Ngilu to purchase ndengu from Kitui County but changed mind after India herself produced an abundant ndengu harvest and so they slapped importation embargo on Kenyan ndengu”. Said the former Prime Minister.
He said he had gathered information that Vietnam was also another major consumer of green grams and offered to help the County Government of Kitui clinch that lucrative market.
Noting that Ndengu revolution was a major success, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka told political leaders in the area to be patient with Governor Ngilu and stop blaming her for the ndengu glut but instead join her in seeking out solutions on the matter.
“Give the Governor time to work and stop the blame game on ndengu market problem. Instead, you should suggest and work out on solutions to post harvest management and availability of market”. He said.
The two leaders noted that it was a great point of success for Governor Ngilu to mobilize farmers and convince them to intensively plant ndengu as a cash crop resulting in the current glut of the produce was itself a major success in food production.
Conversion of Ndengu as a cash crop is part of Governor Ngilu’s development manifesto pledge for food security, women and youth empowerment and wealth creation.
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