Mkulima Moments: Love and business- Wandia is now my city greens supplier

Due to the misty and chilly mornings being experienced at Mashambani village, we decided to have a cup of tea at Check Point after escorting and showering Wandia with gifts.

There were few clients, mostly senior bachelors who are always customers early in the morning for the chai and ndazi breakfast.

“Mkulima, did I see you struggling with a huge banana?” WakaGeorge asked sarcastically as I entered Check Point to the laughter of the other customers.

“Yes he was the one,” Wekesa answered after noticing my hesitation.

“Hii mambo ya gender equality itatuonyesha mambo,” Muchiri said laughing.

“Since when did mature men carry chicken and bananas for women?” WakaGeorge said to another round of laughter.

“Hata kama ni mapenzi…aiiiii, wacha ikae” Muchiri continued.

Muchiri, my former farmhand, has a glimpse of where my relationship with Wandia is although these days he prefers Tesh after she bought them nyama choma during the breeders show.

I wanted to react but I remembered the moral of the parable of the old man who listened to every critic and ended up carrying the donkey.

I even got it from reliable sources that WakaGeorge stopped serving some customers tea and invited them to watch as their Chairman carried a banana for a woman.

He wasn’t happy. He said a potential village elder like me should know the roles of men and women.

He described it as a disgrace to society and his generation. Furthermore I was forcing Wekesa to do the same.

“I think it’s good to mind your own business,” I retorted. But the critics continued some even saying I have never given them anything for free from Mkulima Mixed Farm but I can afford to shower Wandia with gifts.

I walked out of the hotel in protest.

SEIZED THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

At home, Wekesa kept on asking whether Wandia had paid for his kuroiler jogoo which I kept ignoring. “Posi, pesa ya hio chogoo iko wapi?” Wekesa asked.

“But Wekesa, wewe unaangalia pesa ya jogoo tu. You have forgotten I took you to Nairobi and even paid you Sh4,000. Ama hiyo sio pesa?” I retorted, almost losing my cool.

“But pos si hio ni pesa ya Wananchi,” Wekesa argued. I later learnt that he thought it was everyone’s right to be paid to attend the breeders show.

That evening was tense as Wekesa was adamant, insisting I had to pay for the kuroiler chicken so that he can buy another one. I stood put. I had no money.

Later that evening I received Sh3,000 from Wandia via Mpesa. I wasn’t expecting any payment from her.

Soon she sent a WhatsApp message saying that she will call later to explain.

This is the exciting moment I always look forward to – a call from Wandia. “Hello dear, are you able to send more of your farm produce?” Wandia asked even without explaining why she sent the money.

“People scrambled for your farm produce,” she said in excitement.

“You took the produce to the market?” I asked

“No. When I arrived, I parked my car and I opened the boot and people in our estate thought it’s a mobile green grocery,” she said while emphasising ‘my car’.

“They started asking for the prices which I responded like I was in that business,” she started explaining.

“I quickly seized the business opportunity,” she continued. “Strawberries were the first since they were eaten on the spot.

Wandia explained how she sold all the produce to the excited tenants of Nyayo Estate. She said women complimented the produce’s original taste that reminded them when they were growing up in the village many years ago.

THERE IS A NEW GREEN GROCER IN TOWN

“Many were saying that hizi sio kama zile za sewage hua wananunua,” she told me. “Many women are sending messages requesting whether I can be supplying them regularly,” she added
“The money I have sent is just from the sales. Biashara imeanza my dear?” she continued.

This reminded me the ridicule I had been subjected earlier in the day from WakaGeorge for my generosity. He forgot the Bible says that the generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered. This was a double portion – love and business.

WakaGeorge, Muchiri and Mzee Jeremiah were also among the people who doubted my project when I started planting the coloured capsicum, dhania, broccoli and strawberries.

“Now, what is this Mkulima is growing,” I remembered Mzee Jeremiah asking when he found me planting them.

“The problem with these farmers who think they know a lot is that they just plant anything new in an area where people are used to eat bananas, maize, beans and Sukuma wiki,” Mzee Jeremiah wondered.

“Who will buy these exotic vegetables here,” Mzee Jeremiah had continued to criticise my project.

As recently as yesterday, I cannot meet the weekly Nyayo Estate demand for my farm produce.

Wandia is the new green grocer in town.