To many, the locusts currently invading many parts of the county are a menace. However one man, trailblazer industrialist Peter Kuguru,who dared to take on global behemoth Coca-Cola with this soft drinks brand Softa, sees them as a new source of income for many cash strapped Kenyans.
This is after a proposal by former politician-cum businessman Peter Kuguru who offered to buy the locusts from farmers and Kenyans that will be able to trap the destructive insects.
In an interview on KTN News on Wednesday, February 19, Kuguru who is son to former Minister for Natural Heritage Davidson Ngibuini Kuguru, indicated that he was ready to help unemployed Kenyans eke a living from the new venture.
Kuguru also urged the national and county governments to step in and assist Kenyans in employing effective methods that can be applied in trapping the insects.
“I want to propose to the Ministry of Agriculture and other arms of the government to support the population in harvesting the locusts and dry them in large quantities.
“If such a person can go out to the field and collect 20 kilogrammes of locusts, I will buy them at Ksh50 per kilogramme and the person will go home with Ksh1,000,” remarked Kuguru.
Kuguru who is also a miller and the Chairman of the United Grain Millers Association(UGMA) stated that the locusts would play a major role in the preparation of animal feeds.
He indicated that the locusts would be a good substitute for fish and bone ingredients currently used in the animal feeds manufacture.
“I will use those locusts to commercially manufacture animal feeds supplements and they are good because they are a source of vitamins, minerals and roughages,” added Kuguru.
Kuguru is well known as a food technologist who formed Softa Beverage Company that was the first local company to produce locally manufactured soda under the brand name Softa.
In December 2016, Kuguru confirmed closing the investment and sale of its property after a long period of losses, where Kuguru blamed unfair competition as a major cause of his woes.
On Sunday, February 16, the government though Agriculture CS Peter Munya confirmed that it had appointed a consultant to assess the damage caused by the desert locusts since the invasion began.
Addressing residents in Mbeere, Embu County, Munya stated that the consultant and a team of entomologists would soon be sent to the affected counties to carry out research and assessments.
"We would like to know the magnitude of damage to crops so we can find ways to assist the victims," remarked Munya.
Munya also indicated that the government was using entomologists to check on the life cycle of the insects and how they would be controlled.
"We would like to destroy the locusts and their eggs. One locust lays 160 eggs so the insects should be eliminated before they lay eggs," stated Munya, adding that spraying should take place before the locusts spread to other parts.
