Meet Kenyan Man Who Grows "Managu" and Other Kenyan Traditional Veggies in the UK

Many Kenyans who move abroad are forced to forget the dishes they were used to in their countries and settle for what is available in their new homes.

However, for his love for Kenyan traditional vegetables, a Kenyan man in the United Kingdom, Kimnyango Seronei, was forced to find a way of getting his favorite vegetables and even sell to his fellow countrymen.

Seronei, who moved to the UK 15 years ago, rented a small piece of land where he set up a small green house, just to grow his favorite traditional veggies. He resides in Coventry City, where he works as a researcher.

“We have always been trying to find out who is going back to Kenya for a visit so that we can ask them to bring back some indigenous vegetables. To live abroad means to be cut off from sources of fresh food we were used to," he says.

From his small farm, where he applies traditional methods, Seronei is able to grow enough veggies to sell to Kenyans in the UK.

“On the farm, I grow amaranthus (terere), night shade (managu), cow peas, and methi (mrere). They are very adaptable to the conditions here and are rich sources of calcium, magnesium and vitamins A and C. In the greenhouse, we cultivate the spider plant and the saga,” he tells Smart Harvest as quoted on the Standard.

He says his farm can produce enough supply of fresh and quality indigenous vegetables for about 2,000 Kenyans in Coventry and other neighbouring cities.

"I shall run open days for locals to come and taste the vegetables," he says.

“I am fortunate to have been allowed use of the greenhouse for the trial project, and that the seeds I needed for this are easily available. Many Kenyans here who have heard about the project have already placed their orders for the vegetables,” he says.