NTV News: Farmers in Mount Kenya Region Count Losses After Being Lured into Dubious Crop Venture

A group of farmers in the Mount Kenya region is counting their losses after being lured into growing exotic crops—roomx and punas—that were introduced to them by a non-governmental organization (NGO) called Salushi Empowerment Organization. The crisis has left hundreds of farmers stranded, with no buyers for their produce and mounting debts.

The Promise of Prosperity

In 2022, farmers across Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, and Meru counties purchased seedlings from Salushi Empowerment Organization at prices ranging between KSh 2,000 and KSh 5,000 per seedling. They were promised a ready market for their harvests, with each kilogram of roomx reportedly fetching up to KSh 10,000 and puna seeds going for KSh 20,000 per kilogram.

Mary Ken, a farmer from T-Town in Nyeri County, recalls how she took out a loan of KSh 60,000 to invest in roomx after hearing about its lucrative potential during an agricultural meeting in Wambugu. “I thought after three months of growing, I would make a killing,” she said. “I even imagined getting rid of my debts and expanding my farm.”

But instead of prosperity, Mary now faces financial ruin. A year later, what seemed like a golden opportunity turned into bitter disappointment when the NGO disappeared without fulfilling its promises.

Broken Promises and Unpaid Harvests

James Kefo, another affected farmer, borrowed money to venture into the business with high hopes. His first harvest—a modest 35 kg of roomx—was delivered to the Salushi Empowerment Organization office in Hi-Tetto constituency. Encouraged by initial feedback, he sent another 17 kg in February last year. However, weeks turned into months, and James found himself buried under debt with no income to show for his hard work.

“I was expecting around KSh 450,000,” James lamented. “Now, it’s so much worrying and very disappointing.”

Christopher Washira had a slightly different experience. He successfully sold 7 kg of roomx for KSh 70,000 but was then convinced by the company to switch to punas. He delivered 12 kg of puna seeds three months ago, valued at KSh 240,000, but remains unpaid. “They promised big returns, but now they’re not communicating,” he said. “We feel frustrated and cheated.”

Field Officer Speaks Out

Washira, a former field officer at Salushi Empowerment Organization, admitted that he once felt fulfilled spreading hope and knowledge about these promising crops. But now, he says, he has become a target of the farmers’ anger. “At first, it seemed like we were helping people improve their lives,” he explained. “Now, I’m just caught in the middle.”

Farmers Demand Accountability

Over 1,000 farmers had signed three-year contracts with the organization, believing it would secure their financial futures. Now, they find themselves camping outside the closed offices, demanding a total of KSh 30 million in compensation.

James Wasii, the Nyeri County Executive Committee Member in charge of Agriculture, acknowledged the issue only after being questioned. While he claimed the county government was unaware of the matter, he assured that investigations were underway. “When you see a chief or other respected figures endorsing such projects, you assume all is well,” he admitted. “We didn’t expect anyone to use lies.”

Unreachable Organization

Our efforts to reach out to the organization proved futile. We dialed over 10 contacts provided to the farmers, all of which went unanswered. Attempts to contact Lucy Wanjiru, the CEO of Salushi Empowerment Organization, also failed. When we finally reached Kennedy Chomba, the company’s operations manager, he claimed ignorance about the situation. “I’m busy right now. Can you call me later?” he asked before hanging up.

For the farmers of Mount Kenya, the dream of transforming their fortunes through roomx and punas has turned into a nightmare. As they continue to seek justice, many are left wondering whether NGOs should be held accountable for promoting unverified ventures that leave communities worse off than before.

Margaret Kim, NTV, reporting from Nyeri County.