Farmer offers Kiambiu residents hope through food provision

At 54, Mutuku Kivevu is a respected figure in the Kiambiu slum of Eastleigh South Ward. His reputation stems from his generosity, his family-oriented approach, and his commitment to running a church alongside his daily work.

On a small patch of land by the Nairobi River, he has cultivated a small oasis. What began as a personal project to feed himself has blossomed into something more—a source of sustenance for many in Kiambiu.

In a place where survival is often a daily struggle, Mutuku’s crops have offered a lifeline to his neighbours.

His farm produces a variety of crops, including mangoes, cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, sugarcane, guavas, beans and bananas, which feed hundreds around here. His efforts have made a significant impact on the community.

The Genesis

Mutuku Kivevu's rise to prominence in Kiambiu began in 2010 when he left behind his life in Machakos for the then-untamed forest.

"Immediately after the promulgation of the 2010 Kenyan constitution, I moved here, cleared the bush and immediately started farming," he recalled in an interview with The Eastleigh Voice.

The land, which was previously unused, has now become a productive source of food for both Mutuku and many of his neighbours.

In 2015, Mutuku Kivevu took a key step to sustain his farm by digging two wells on the riverbank. These wells ensure a steady water supply for irrigation, enabling him to cultivate crops even during dry periods.

The wells have also become a vital resource for local residents, offering essential water when rains are scarce.

Challenges 

For the past decade, Mutuku has depended solely on his farm for food, underscoring his self-sufficiency and unwavering commitment to agriculture.

However, farming in Kiambiu is fraught with challenges for Mutuku. Thieves stealing from him has become a grim routine, with other intruders pilfering his produce and vandalising his crops, leading to significant losses.

To safeguard his farm, Mutuku often sleeps less, remaining on high alert to protect his hard-earned work.

Flooding presents another major hurdle, especially when the Nairobi River swells during heavy rains, and his land becomes inundated, submerging and destroying much of his crop. The unpredictable nature of these floods adds another layer of difficulty to the already arduous task of maintaining his farm.

Mutuku’s quarter-acre farm, which is also tucked next to the fence of the Eastleigh Airbase, has been a battleground of sorts. While his crops have been a source of hope for the community, they’ve also drawn the attention of authorities.

Over the years, Mutuku has found himself detained more than once, as officials from the airbase grew wary of his farming activities, deeming them a potential security risk.

Despite these challenges, Mutuku has held fast to his piece of land, determined to continue growing food for Kiambiu’s residents. His resilience, much like the crops he tends, has taken root in the hearts of those he feeds.

Despite the frequent run-ins with authorities, Mutuku has always been released, with officials eventually concluding that his humble farming posed no threat to the airbase. Each time, he returned to his quarter-acre plot, undeterred and ready to tend to his crops again.

Now, the tension between Mutuku and the airbase officials has eased, giving way to an unexpected partnership. What was once a source of conflict has evolved into a quiet understanding. The airbase, recognising the value of Mutuku’s labour, now benefits from his farm’s produce.

Personal Life 

Despite his accomplishments, Mutuku's life is unconventional in many ways. He has never married and has no family.

"I have no family. I could not make one from the time I came here, and that is how I will live," he explained. Mutuku has chosen a life of celibacy and has no plans to change that decision.

To combat the loneliness that sometimes comes with his solitary life, he started a small church, where a few people gather to worship with him.