Cha Kula Podcast

The Right to Adequate food is a human right, endorsed and ratified as binding international law by 171 nations. These nations recognise that all people have the right to be free from hunger and to access adequate food of sufficient quality. The 2010 constitution of Kenya explicitly provides for this right for all Kenyans. Article 43 (1) (c)of the constitution states clearly, "every Kenyan has the...

Every year state agencies, parastatals, donors and the private sector allocate money to different aspects of the agriculture sector. The money allocated has a major influence on which policies are enacted, interventions are done and what crops and foods get prioritized. Today, finance expert and Founder of Kenya Budget Talks Evelyn Mathai break down for us, what these allocations are, and how they...

The invisibility of young and women farmers in popular literature robs us interesting and insightful ideas on how respective age, genders, and regions pursue farming. Michael Wekesa, a farmer and engineer from Kitale town elaborates what it is like growing up in a predominantly farming town and how the generations transition in terms of taking up farming as a hobby, or profession.

Food security is not a problem of production. It is a problem of access (affordability) and distribution. Felix Karuri Githaka a regenerative farmer believes that GMOs are not the solution to Kenya’s hunger problems and that we ought to live wholesomely and find healthy ways of engaging with earth, people, plants, and all other elements that contribute to our natural existence. Find out more; http...

Millions of Insects species have been around for billions of years while performing key roles such as pollination, maintaining ecological balance, controlling pests, recycling nutrients. However as Kenyan entomologist Dr. Dino Martins breaks it down, our recent industrial growth and modernity has wiped out entire population of insects putting both the ecology, food security and economy at risk. Fi...

In recent years industrial farming and the rise of farming multinationals have reduced the agency and sovereignty of farmers over their crops, and what consumers eat. We are joined by Cidi Otieno, Kenya Peasants League International Coordinator and Convener and a food rights campaigner. He explains what this loss of sovereignty means for farmers and consumers across the country. Find out more: www...

Food and farming plays such a central role in our relationships as consumers, farmers, gardeners, friends and in the aesthetics and memories. Nic Odhiambo an organic farmer, chef and writer uses his own childhood experience, expertise and insights to break down what it means to wholesomely interact with our food and farming cultures. Find out more: https://routetofood.org/ Join the Route to Food A...

What is most striking in the intersection between food, colonialism, sovereignty, and personal agency is that one realizes food is about more than just dinners and meals. Our favourite staples, recipes, and cooking methods carry critical insights into how a society has evolved through history. Chef Kabui explains by understanding these nuances a society is able to appreciate its own complexity and...

Healthy farming practices is about having good, readily available and affordable food and as Kai Njeri expounds the options to pursue some form of regenerative farming is available to each and everyone of us. The modern consumer is becoming more conscious of what they eat and where it comes from and in choosing to pursue regenerative farming everyone will be able to reclaim a sense of agency, and...

Kenya's 2010 constitution put in place devolution through 47 elected governments. The devolved units alongside shifting weather patterns are reshaping our food systems and policies in ways that cause losses in some counties while salvaging food systems in other counties. As science journalist Zeynab Wandati explains these changes, when weighed through the metrological data, puts a policy, cultural...

Since the first COVID-19 case was recorded in March 13th, the state agencies effected a lock-down of social spaces including informal eateries. These eateries also known as vibandas make up a critical part of the city's nutritional and social structures. Their closure massively affected how the informal food sector operate in Kenya. On this episode we are joined by Dauti Kahura; senior writer at t...

The African Indigenous food systems had complex models around seed preservation, refrigeration, justice, art, nutrition, and trade. And not to forget, food was central to colonization, global inequalities, and cultural sharing. On this episode we are joined by Wangui Kamonji, a retriever and bearer of indigenous Afrikan lifeways, recentering Afrika, Earth and ancestrality in her offerings to the w...

Food is a personal issue but also a deeply political and institutional issue. It therefore is dependent upon a set of critical policy and infrastructure framework for transportation, storage, sales, matching demand and supply, and future projections. The fate of farmers largely depends on the state of these respective spaces. On this episode we are joined by Christine Mungai, a writer, journalist...

Food has never been about the simple act of eating; food is history, and identity. Colonialism, as a violent process, fundamentally altered the way of life of a people, including their culinary habits. Even how ugali became Kenya’s staple food is part of the story of colonialism. On this episode we are joined by Joe Kobuthi, production manager, editor & curator at the Elephant who shared interesti...

The importance of seeds, and indigenous seed cultures, in particular, is a lost knowledge among the current generation of Africans. Seeds represents both culture, survival, power, love, beauty, knowledge and information. So how do we keep a strong hold over our seeds knowing that they play such a core part of our lives, reality, food sustenance and history? On this episode we are joined by The Ele...

We all have our favorite dishes of chakula. From githeri to mursik to nyama choma, or pilau, our different food cultures are important. They are part of our identity. Unfortunately, more than 10 million Kenyans do not have the ability to enjoy their favorite dishes. Yet, Article 43 of the Kenyan constitution stipulates that every Kenyan has a right to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food...