By Nelson Mandela
Dr. David Eseli Simiyu, a respected former Member of Parliament for Tongaren constituency, has made an inspiring transition from politics to agriculture. After serving 15 years in Parliament until 2022, he returned to his roots in rural Naitiri, Bungoma County, where he chose to dedicate his time to full-time farming. On both family-owned and leased land totaling around 40 acres, Dr. Eseli now grows Hass avocados, coffee, and sugarcane crops, which he believes offer strong returns when managed strategically. His largest investment is in coffee, with 30 acres under Batian and Ruiru 11 varieties. To maximize value, he has installed a pulping station on his farm, enabling him to process the coffee cherries, dry them, and sell directly to millers, thereby retaining more value at the farm level. His avocado journey began with 5,000 seedlings from the National Irrigation Board, which he helped plant on 4 acres of land. These trees, intercropped with beans and fertilized using organic manure, require fewer inputs than coffee and provide a cost-effective complement to his crop mix.
Dr. Eseli also grows sugarcane on 10 acres of family land and leased plots in neighboring Trans-Nzoia County. Here, he reports yields of up to 50 tons per acre, generating gross returns of about KSh 250,000 per acre per harvest, with a net profit of around KSh 200,000. Sugarcane offers high returns if managed well, thus it has a higher profit value. However, Dr. Eseli emphasizes the importance of diversification, pointing out that while sugarcane is land-hungry, crops like coffee and avocado yield better value per acre, especially when value addition is integrated on-farm. He also incorporates dairy farming for daily income, creating a resilient, multi-layered income strategy.
One of the more thought-provoking lessons from Dr. Eseli's story is his approach to land. Rather than focusing solely on land ownership, he advocates for leasing as a smart strategy to scale operations without the heavy capital burden of land purchase. This flexibility has allowed him to access larger parcels for sugarcane farming while retaining the security of his family-owned land for other crops. His transition from political life to agriculture is not only a personal reinvention but also a bold statement on the power of farming to transform livelihoods. He’s now championing a mindset shift among local farmers, encouraging them to adopt smart farming techniques, embrace value chains, use organic methods, and think beyond traditional landownership models.
For farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and even professionals considering a second act in life, Dr. Eseli’s journey offers valuable insights. Diversification, sustainability, value addition, and strategic resource management are central themes in his success.
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