Kevin Ntabo was born and raised in Itibo village, located in Kisii County, and harbored aspirations of living in the United States throughout his childhood.
In 2016, he traveled to the United States and the United Kingdom in pursuit of better opportunities.
Five years later, equipped with a degree in accounting, Ntabo made the decision to permanently settle in the United States.
His initial aspiration was to enlist in the US military; however, he was taken aback to learn that he did not meet the weight requirements, as he weighed 120 kilograms.
Ntabo’s weight, coupled with his family’s health history—particularly the loss of his mother to diabetes—served as a significant motivator for change.
To achieve weight loss, Ntabo, who expresses skepticism about gym workouts, opted to modify his diet.
Residing in Washington DC, where fast food is prevalent, he decided to turn organic by cultivating his own food, particularly vegetables.
Ntabo embarked on a farming venture, growing a variety of African leafy vegetables, including black nightshade (managu), amaranth (terere or mchicha), cowpea leaves (kunde), jute mallow (mrenda) and spider plant (sagaa).
He is now recognized as an indigenous crop farmer in King County, one of Washington’s counties.
In addition to selling his surplus produce, Ntoba cultivates kale (sukuma wiki), spinach, pumpkin leaves, Kenyan beans, okra, potatoes, green peas, carrots, and maize, which he markets across various venues in the United States.
His farm spans an area of 100 acres.
“The indigenous land is allocated to minority groups—people who come together to grow crops without damaging the soil’s natural state,” he explains.
Ntabo obtained the land through an organization known as Living Well Can.
The land is provided at no cost by King County to enhance food security and promote a healthy lifestyle through sustainable eating practices.
Together with approximately 50 other farmers, Ntabo is part of a collective that has received $100,000 (Ksh 12 million) to support the vegetable project.
He has successfully attracted a community of Kenyans residing in the United States, as well as Native Americans, to purchase his products.
Ntabo notes that he is his own primary consumer, recalling that when he began farming in 2022, he stored his produce at home due to the absence of a market.
“I did not know where to find the Kenyan community since I was new. I harvested and stored the produce in my house, and for the next year, I did not buy groceries. Over time, I networked with people and introduced them to what I was growing,” he said.
Ntabo describes how the Living Well Can organization manages a farmers’ market akin to the Muthurwa or Gikomba markets in Kenya, where he sells his produce every Saturday.
Any surplus produce is purchased by the charity and subsequently distributed to schools and those in need.
When asked about his success in agriculture within a foreign nation, Ntabo attributes his achievements to his parents, whose primary livelihood was derived from farming.
“I’m the last born in a family of 14 siblings, and growing up in such a large family comes with its own challenges, especially meeting basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. However, my parents were peasant farmers who worked hard to ensure we all went to school,” he said.
