When Vihiga governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo, talks about the potential of agriculture, he speaks not just as a leader, but as someone who has lived in it.
Appearing on Mfahamu Kiongozi program, run by the Mzalendo Trust, Ottichillo shared his personal journey, urging young people to view farming not as a fallback plan, but as a powerful tool for growth and self-empowerment.
With a nostalgic smile crossing his face, he said, “I earned my first money from farming, while still in high school. Infact, I bought my first pair of shoes and clothes from the proceeds of my cabbage and pawpaw farm.”
For him, farming was more than just a way to make ends meet, it was a life lesson in patience, hard work and the value of the soil beneath his feet.
Now, serving as the governor of Vihiga county, Dr. Ottichilo is appealing to Kenyans, especially the youth to rediscover the same promise in agriculture.
He believes that Kenya’s future lies in the hands of a generation that can combine innovation with the age-old practice of farming.
Ottichilo emphasized the need for young farmers to embrace sustainable methods that protect and enrich the land.
One such approach, he explained, is the cultivation of plants such as Sesbania Sesban, which naturally adds nitrogen to the soil, improving fertility and increasing yields without harming the environment.
However, the governor’s message goes beyond just farming techniques. Success in agriculture doesn’t come overnight. It calls for change of mindset, with a lot of consistency, learning and the willingness to start small.
And in Vihiga, where arable land is abundant, yet youth unemployment remains a challenge, Dr. Ottichilo’s message was both timely and practical.
He envisions a generation that would transform agriculture into a modern, tech-driven enterprise, a source of pride and prosperity.
For Ottichilo, the seeds of change are already in the soil. What remains is for young people to plant theirs too, and nurture them with determination.
by Rose Wasike
