Meru County,the most poorest County in Kenya,once was richest

[Njuri Ncheke]

• Tweet

....hunger desperation no rains 4 years straight,gatheca economics of the rich and neglect, all development went to nyanza,have made Meru the most desperate county in Kenya in need of serious intervention

[Kadudu]

 
After almost 20 years of being at the centre of power, Meru folk have nothing to show of it. Now crying more than the bereaved people of Nyanza and Western who never had the chance of having a bedroom in SH.

....hunger desperation no rains 4 years straight,gatheca economics of the rich and neglect, all development went to nyanza,have made Meru the most desperate county in Kenya in need of serious intervention

[hk]

....hunger desperation no rains 4 years straight,gatheca economics of the rich and neglect, all development went to nyanza,have made Meru the most desperate county in Kenya in need of serious intervention

La nina is real, it hasn't rained properly for 1yr. It goes to show how depended Meru is on agriculture.

[Njuri Ncheke]

After almost 20 years of being at the centre of power, Meru folk have nothing to show of it. Now crying more than the bereaved people of Nyanza and Western who never had the chance of having a bedroom in SH.

....hunger desperation no rains 4 years straight,gatheca economics of the rich and neglect, all development went to nyanza,have made Meru the most desperate county in Kenya in need of serious intervention

Kadudu don't laugh life is bad and miserable in Meru while lack of rains contributed fcucking UHURU broke the back of the camel. Its baaad

[RV Pundit]

I think worst part was uhuru hidding the drought for politics.

Ruto has to face this head on.

[RV Heavy Hitter!]

Rains/droughts have nothing to do with the lack of food in today's marketplace. Other economic forces and policies are more dangerous. I agree Uhuru's economic policies have been severe to Meru and other regions, but I disagree on the lack of Rain. Some areas NEVER rain in California for decades, but foods are here in plenty. You can never run out of milk, bread, flour, or any type of food from all over the world in the US, partly because of good roads, 24/7 electricity, industrialization, jobs, money in people's hands, and an Amazing supply chain, etc. I think poverty in Meru, UG, Nyanza, and most parts of Kenya is not because of rains; for the most part, I agree it is because of years of poor economic policies that have churned out poor people with no money in the last few decades. If people in Meru had money, companies and traders would be willing to supply food and all people's needs. Lack of money and a false sense of dependence on Rain for food is hurting Kenya. Energy (Petrol, electricity, etc.) is a big deal in the economy and needs to be addressed like yesterday. I think if petrol was reduced to 100 shillings a litter, and electricity be available in 90% of Meru, Rain could miss for decades, but people will not lack food.
A Chinese lady sells international foods in my neighborhood, selling about 5-7 items from Kenya. Unga, Ketepa, Royco, and a few things, but she never runs out because she has a consistent market. People in California have money because most have been paid every Friday or every other Friday for the last 100+years. With cash at hand, demand and supply forces work magic in that people will always go above and beyond to supply anything moneyed people need.
 As long as people had plenty of money, other people called traders would always supply the area with anything. That is why desert Saudi Arabia and Gulf have plenty of food despite no rain. It boils down to money circulation, energy, and other factors except for rain/drought.
Opening the road network all over Kenya was the first start, though not complete; now we need to manufacture things, companies to hire people, electricity everywhere, and a lot of other interventions that put consistent money in people's pockets.
By the way, Nyanza has the most Rain, but the food supply is also a big problem. 4 in 10 people in Nyanza are hungry right now!

[lelewela]

Meru is over populated, land subdivided to to very small kashambas, so solution is to stop land subdivisions create several Urban centers, Maua, Nkubu, Timau and free up the land for large scale  commercial farming.
Otherwise sisi hapa karibu from upande za laikapia will use you as maids and porters

[RV Pundit]

For its mostly about money; maasai or turkana will never farm; but they sell one cow; if they are serious; can buy one year supply of food; but they are uneducated morons who will squander the money

one big bull of 100k can feed a family for one year...

Rains/droughts have nothing to do with the lack of food in today's marketplace. Other economic forces and policies are more dangerous. I agree Uhuru's economic policies have been severe to Meru and other regions, but I disagree on the lack of Rain. Some areas NEVER rain in California for decades, but foods are here in plenty. You can never run out of milk, bread, flour, or any type of food from all over the world in the US, partly because of good roads, 24/7 electricity, industrialization, jobs, money in people's hands, and an Amazing supply chain, etc. I think poverty in Meru, UG, Nyanza, and most parts of Kenya is not because of rains; for the most part, I agree it is because of years of poor economic policies that have churned out poor people with no money in the last few decades. If people in Meru had money, companies and traders would be willing to supply food and all people's needs. Lack of money and a false sense of dependence on Rain for food is hurting Kenya. Energy (Petrol, electricity, etc.) is a big deal in the economy and needs to be addressed like yesterday. I think if petrol was reduced to 100 shillings a litter, and electricity be available in 90% of Meru, Rain could miss for decades, but people will not lack food.
A Chinese lady sells international foods in my neighborhood, selling about 5-7 items from Kenya. Unga, Ketepa, Royco, and a few things, but she never runs out because she has a consistent market. People in California have money because most have been paid every Friday or every other Friday for the last 100+years. With cash at hand, demand and supply forces work magic in that people will always go above and beyond to supply anything moneyed people need.
 As long as people had plenty of money, other people called traders would always supply the area with anything. That is why desert Saudi Arabia and Gulf have plenty of food despite no rain. It boils down to money circulation, energy, and other factors except for rain/drought.
Opening the road network all over Kenya was the first start, though not complete; now we need to manufacture things, companies to hire people, electricity everywhere, and a lot of other interventions that put consistent money in people's pockets.
By the way, Nyanza has the most Rain, but the food supply is also a big problem. 4 in 10 people in Nyanza are hungry right now!

[RV Pundit]

We are dealing with poverty of the mental kind. The people begging for food can sell their goats or sheeps or just one cow.

[RV Heavy Hitter!]

For its mostly about money; maasai or turkana will never farm; but they sell one cow; if they are serious; can buy one year supply of food; but they are uneducated morons who will squander the money

one big bull of 100k can feed a family for one year...

Rains/droughts have nothing to do with the lack of food in today's marketplace. Other economic forces and policies are more dangerous. I agree Uhuru's economic policies have been severe to Meru and other regions, but I disagree on the lack of Rain. Some areas NEVER rain in California for decades, but foods are here in plenty. You can never run out of milk, bread, flour, or any type of food from all over the world in the US, partly because of good roads, 24/7 electricity, industrialization, jobs, money in people's hands, and an Amazing supply chain, etc. I think poverty in Meru, UG, Nyanza, and most parts of Kenya is not because of rains; for the most part, I agree it is because of years of poor economic policies that have churned out poor people with no money in the last few decades. If people in Meru had money, companies and traders would be willing to supply food and all people's needs. Lack of money and a false sense of dependence on Rain for food is hurting Kenya. Energy (Petrol, electricity, etc.) is a big deal in the economy and needs to be addressed like yesterday. I think if petrol was reduced to 100 shillings a litter, and electricity be available in 90% of Meru, Rain could miss for decades, but people will not lack food.
A Chinese lady sells international foods in my neighborhood, selling about 5-7 items from Kenya. Unga, Ketepa, Royco, and a few things, but she never runs out because she has a consistent market. People in California have money because most have been paid every Friday or every other Friday for the last 100+years. With cash at hand, demand and supply forces work magic in that people will always go above and beyond to supply anything moneyed people need.
 As long as people had plenty of money, other people called traders would always supply the area with anything. That is why desert Saudi Arabia and Gulf have plenty of food despite no rain. It boils down to money circulation, energy, and other factors except for rain/drought.
Opening the road network all over Kenya was the first start, though not complete; now we need to manufacture things, companies to hire people, electricity everywhere, and a lot of other interventions that put consistent money in people's pockets.
By the way, Nyanza has the most Rain, but the food supply is also a big problem. 4 in 10 people in Nyanza are hungry right now!

Agree, but in Kenya, even people with 10 acres can go hungry because of brain disease. Food distribution, refrigeration, and supply chain are still down kabisa in Kenya. What is even more down is akili of people. In some places in Elgeyo Marakwet, vegetables like Sukuma, managu, potatoes, and cabbage are dirt cheap. 100 shillings would buy you one sack of managu or Sukuma, while in Nairobi, it would cost over 1000. In Kamagut, especially in my place, my family never has a problem with vegetables and mahindi because they cultivate and irrigate acres of spinach, cabbage and Sukuma, but it is not commercially viable because neighbors do the same. If you try to take it 100 0r 200 kilometers away for sale, the cost of transportation will eat the bottom line.
Kenya is where one area could be hungry, and 100 miles away, there could be a surplus. Very strange! But has been like that since the 1970s. Those with plenty cannot serve those with a deficit because they have no money!
I think supermarkets need to link with local farmers and make contracts as they perfected in the US.
In the US, major supermarkets sell local produce from local farmers, for the most part, so you will see a tomato farmer dedicated to one supermarket for decades. With experience, the farmer improves to precise efficiency after a few years.

[Kadudu]

Njuri, actually meru County is very rich. Look at the expenses incurred by your now governor in the years 2019/2020 when she was an MP. iPhpne for 300K , anointing oil from Israel 2.7M etc. Then you are compalining the county is poor.

[RV Pundit]

If that is true then Meru is going down

[RV Pundit]

I don't understand why pastoralists cannot sell one cow stock enough cereals for the year...sacks of maize,beans,rice, sugar... rather than watch the animals die...I think education is a problem.. illiterate person is irrational

[RV Heavy Hitter!]

I don't understand why pastoralists cannot sell one cow stock enough cereals for the year...sacks of maize,beans,rice, sugar... rather than watch the animals die...I think education is a problem.. illiterate person is irrational

In their local areas there are no consistent buyers willing to pay top money for a cow. I have been buying cows from relatives and neighbors for decades for school fees purposes. Initially, I use to pay 20-30K, especially in Jan when the market is flooded. Now that I have enough and am reluctant to buy, sellers are still willing to sell it below 20K. In the village right now, you can buy a full cow for 15-20K. I'm sure in drought-prone areas where animals die, you can buy them way cheaply. Money is very scarce in Kenya! I think about 10% of Kenya have money with the bottom 50% flat broke! People with cars drive them about a week in a month. And yes, most Kenyans earning below 100K go broke about a few hours to 5 days after receiving their salary! A combination of Fuliza, betting, pombe, etc is decapitating Kenya!

[RV Pundit]

Yes the same with land - I have had to literally stop - because they were finishing my money - there is always someone willing to sell their parcel of land - shida they are tiny pieces and expensive.

The problem is economic is not generating income - money - it's still mostly farming for own consumption.

As for cattle - I think markets for cattle is huge - as Nairobi people buy cows - at least where I come from - cow is sold immediately - bought by local butchers - but we dont have many cows.

In their local areas there are no consistent buyers willing to pay top money for a cow. I have been buying cows from relatives and neighbors for decades for school fees purposes. Initially, I use to pay 20-30K, especially in Jan when the market is flooded. Now that I have enough and am reluctant to buy, sellers are still willing to sell it below 20K. In the village right now, you can buy a full cow for 15-20K. I'm sure in drought-prone areas where animals die, you can buy them way cheaply. Money is very scarce in Kenya! I think about 10% of Kenya have money with the bottom 50% flat broke! People with cars drive them about a week in a month. And yes, most Kenyans earning below 100K go broke about a few hours to 5 days after receiving their salary! A combination of Fuliza, betting, pombe, etc is decapitating Kenya!

[RV Heavy Hitter!]

On land and houses, everything is speculative in Kenya. The land is expensive, but once you buy and build something, like a house for rent, you will recover costs incurred in about 20-30 years. Worthless to invest. One acre in the village is about 3m now, but don't try to cultivate or build things to generate income. You will easily spend 100 million but returns will come slowly and painfully for 20-30 years. There is no need to buy a plot in Nairobi and build it because you will spend a cool billion only to get a cool billion in returns after 30 years. Kenya's economy is not a fully free market driven by demand and supply forces; many folks are putting their thumbs on the scale.

[Njuri Ncheke]

....hunger desperation no rains 4 years straight,gatheca economics of the rich and neglect, all development went to nyanza,have made Meru the most desperate county in Kenya in need of serious intervention

La nina is real, it hasn't rained properly for 1yr. It goes to show how depended Meru is on agriculture.

Perfectly put,Merus over reliance on agriculture has been there down fall. Indeed that made them rich but we are in a new era where agriculture is not sufficient,this is the dark reality.

[Njuri Ncheke]

Njuri, actually meru County is very rich. Look at the expenses incurred by your now governor in the years 2019/2020 when she was an MP. iPhpne for 300K , anointing oil from Israel 2.7M etc. Then you are compalining the county is poor.

This was propaganda from Kiraitus people,Kawira is a hustler mashinani she wouldn't spend on stuff like that she doesn't even know what an iphone is

[Njuri Ncheke]

If that is true then Meru is going down

Meru is already down and needs a Marshal plan,however the above by kadudu is mere Kiraitus propaganda.
Merus need move into other activities agriculture kwisha,Merus were proud farmers but not anymore.

[Georgesoros]

MERU was the one of the country's bread basket. What happened?
Poor leadership. Why not use county funds to develop the main resource - agri