Mwea

Mwea, to most Kenyans, is known for its irrigation scheme, Mwea Teberre Irrigation Scheme, as it is what we were taught back in primary school. The main cash crop here is rice. For some reason I always assumed that Mwea was a place found in Embu.

“If you want to know the taste of a pear, you must change the pear by eating it yourself. All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience.” Mao Zedong

I came to learn otherwise a few days back when I set out to explore Embu (which I am still yet to do by the way), about 130 kilometres from Nairobi, using the Thika Super Highway. You will pass through a number of towns including Thika, Sagana, Makuyu, Kambiti and Mwea, before arriving at your final destination.

An open field in Makuyu

A private shamba in Kambiti

The land has been eroded by the heavy rains over the years causing sand cliffs to form.

Public land in Mwea near Tana River Rice Millers

This boy was busy trying to saddle up the donkey so that it could pull the cart

Land preparation for planting to commence between June and August

The grass is used as feed for cattle

A congregation of egrets

The chase 😀

Rice paddy in Kangondu, Mwea