‘Mukombelo’ scarcity hits Western after France export deal

A recent multi-million shilling export deal between mukombelo farmers from Kakamega county and a French firm now hang in a balance.

This is after the root, also known as mukombera, which was to be exported became scarce at the local market.

Its price has also shot up as only a handful of farmers can manage to source it.

The deal was expected to see a local conservation group; Kanfcco exports over 100,000 metric tons of the precious root every year beginning 2022. The deal was signed between Kafcco and Mansfield, a French multinational.

“Since our farmers signed the deal a few weeks ago, there has been a major drop in the supply of mukombelo at the local market. This is unfortunate,” said Caleb Makatiani, a resident of Shinyalu; which is the bed rock of the root.

“Mukombelo is our heritage and we cannot be starved, just because of a deal with a foreign country,” said Sospeter Kulecho; a resident.