BAOBAB INNOVATION SHINES AT NAIROBI TRADE FAIR 2025

The Adansonia Digitata, widely known as the baobab tree (‘namba’ in kamba), is a resilient plant that thrives in drylands, including Kibwezi in Makueni.

Its fruit is packed with nutrients, boosting immunity, aiding digestion and supporting overall body health.

Traditionally cherished for its medicinal and food uses, the baobab continues to stand out as a natural gift with immense value.

Among the young innovators showcasing this potential is Emanuel Kioko Kimeu, a passionate youth from Kee Ward, Kaiti Sub-County.

Through his venture, Kee Botanical Gardens Illustrator, Kioko has dedicated himself to research on local plants, documenting their food and medicinal value while championing their use in modern diets.

His creativity and passion are giving indigenous plants a new life in today’s food systems.

Aligning with this year’s Nairobi Trade Fair 2025 theme of promoting climate-smart agriculture and sustainable trade, the Makueni County Government, in partnership with the Micro Small Enterprise Authority, has provided a stand for local innovators like Kioko to exhibit their work.

One of his unique value addition projects involves processing baobab fruit into bread jam and porridge flour—highly nutritious products that promote healthy living.

Such innovations highlight how local plants are not only protecting community health but also strengthening food security and economic growth.

For Makueni, these efforts showcase the richness of indigenous knowledge, turning climate-resilient resources like the baobab into everyday solutions for the people.