Mkulima Moments: So much for being called village millionaire

I cannot hide it any more. It is now in the public domain that I am a “millionaire” farmer tucked in a rural setting.

For this tag, some people are asking me to run for the local parliamentary seat. They think I have now grown bigger than the MCA seat which several of Check Point Hotel customers have been suggesting I run for it.

It all started by a follow up call from one guy called Tim. Tesh had earlier called me asking me to accept to be interviewed by her friend. It looked like it was part of her way of seeking solace from me for the bungled wild camp party.

“Hello, Mkulima,” he said when he called me early in the morning after milking Aunt Wandia’s cow.

“I was given your contacts by Tesh. We met in that jungle party that Tesh had organised,” he explained himself unknowingly confirming that Tesh had actually organised the jungle party though she had concealed this.

“Quick, to the business. I must say we were impressed by your farming venture. I work in the media and I would like to follow up with some questions,” he said without giving me time to respond.

“I hope you don’t mind. First question, you said after graduating you went to the city and worked as a marketer?” he asked.

I explained to him my journey in farming, how I graduated and went to the city looking for a job and how I got a marketing job where the first task was to distribute leaflets along Uhuru highway.

“For confirmation you said you have 10 Holstein dairy cows,” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered

I added that I was currently milking six, two are heifers and another two are expected to calf in three months.

“You also said that there is one that gives about 40 litres per day,” he asked.

I didn’t have time to explain that the 40-litre wonder was Munge, my cow that died of hardware disease.

I also explained to him how I have other fruits and vegetables that I sell from the farm and an average of 200 visitors per month paying Sh 1,000 to learn about farming.

NEWS SPREAD LIKE BUSH FIRE

Two days after my interview my story was splashed in two publications, an agricultural magazine and a magazine inside a national daily.

The magazine was bold. “Young graduate’s Sh 1 million farming venture in rural Kenya”. It had my photo in the farm, uploaded from my Mkulima Young website.

The newspaper magazine story was headlined, “From a marketer to a millionaire farmer- The journey of a young jobless graduate”.

The news spread like bush fire at Mashambani village. They couldn’t believe that amidst them is a millionaire. My feature story has extensively been circulated in social media with Tesh tagging almost everybody she knows.

My phone has been ringing continuously with those working in the office wondering what the hell they are doing. Everyone wants to know the secret of being a millionaire farmer.

Everyone at Mashambani is gossiping about Mkulima – the humble millionaire who quit his job as a marketing executive to concentrate on farming.

“I think looks can deceive. Do you think Mkulima is a millionaire?” Muchiri was overheard asking when he found the debate at Check Point Hotel, owned by Wakageorge.

“Unajua mamillionaire hua hawatakangi kujulikana sana,” Wakageorge added.

“Na vile ni mkono gamu” even he couldn’t afford my salary,” said Muchiri insinuating that he left because of poor pay.

“That’s why he is not interested with Mzee Jeremiah’s small debt of Sh20,000 and the fine he got from the chief,” added Mzee Kabeca.

“No wonder he is our chairman,” added Wakageorge.

I WAS MISQUOTED

Local schools and churches now know that I am a millionaire farmer. The media has announced it.

Now Wandia’s aunt has already printed my name as a guest of honour at their local church to buy praise and worship music instruments, even though they don’t have power. But she believes in miracles.

The Principal of Mashambani Secondary School also called me saying they have actually been struggling to get a guest for their harambee to build an additional dormitory.

“I have actually printed your story and pinned it on the school notice board. I summoned the students for an emergency parade and told them they must read how people can become millionaires by getting into commercial farming,” the Principal said loudly on the phone.

The calls are countless. Even some people who have never called me for 10 years were now praising me saying they will come and visit the farm.

Even my WhattsApp is inundated by comments and numbers are surging on the Mkulima young face book.

I did not expect this kind of thing.

I desire to be a millionaire but I am yet to be. I was misquoted.