A Germany-based Kenyan woman recently expressed excitement after discovering a fellow Kenyan selling fresh kienyeji produce, including managu, sukuma wiki, spinach, and terere, in Berlin. The woman praised Jesse Wafula, popularly known as Uncle Jesse among his customers, for bringing a taste of home to the Kenyan diaspora in Germany. She shared her experience online, highlighting the freshness and quality of the produce.
Jesse Wafula, a young man from Bungoma County, moved to Germany in 2020 and pivoted to farming in 2024 after spotting a gap in the market. Wafula grows Kenyan vegetables and white maize that are unavailable in Germany, serving most of his customers from his base in Berlin. His focus is entirely on produce that Kenyans in Germany miss most, and he only ships mangoes that are sweet and unlike those found in Germany.
The Germany-based Kenyan woman sparked excitement online after she discovered Uncle Jesse's produce, describing the mangoes she had tasted as among the best she had eaten, fresh and natural. She noted that her freezer was fully stocked heading into winter and was already thinking ahead, hoping that dhania, avocados, and other farm produce would be available by the following year. She also jokingly asked whether a Christmas goat might be on offer.
Wafula explained that his journey to farming was not planned initially, but he credits two key realisations for the shift: the high cost of food in Europe, particularly vegetables, and watching his former employer build considerable wealth. He shared that seeing his boss make a lot of money where he worked as an intern motivated his drive to pursue a career in farming.
To raise capital for his farming venture, Wafula joined an anti-racism group in Berlin-Brandenburg, which helped him run a GoFundMe campaign that raised enough money to acquire a farm with solid starting capital. Despite the challenges that many immigrants face when building a business abroad, Wafula said his experience has been largely positive.
For Berlin's Kenyan community, Uncle Jesse has quietly become something of a lifeline, bridging the gap between the shamba back home and the dinner table thousands of kilometres away. His produce has brought a taste of home to the Kenyan diaspora in Germany, and his customers appreciate the freshness and quality of the vegetables.
Wafula's story is an inspiring example of entrepreneurship and innovation, and his venture is making a significant impact on the Kenyan community in Germany. His dedication to providing high-quality produce and his passion for farming have earned him a loyal customer base, and his business continues to grow.
Key points
- A Germany-based Kenyan woman finds a fellow Kenyan selling fresh kienyeji produce in Berlin.
- Jesse Wafula, a young man from Bungoma County, pivoted to farming in 2024 after spotting a gap in the market for Kenyan vegetables and white maize in Germany.
- Wafula's farming venture was supported by an anti-racism group in Berlin-Brandenburg, which helped him raise capital through a GoFundMe campaign.
