Gachagua visits Kenyan farmer growing African traditional vegetables in USA
By Valerian Khakayi, July 25, 2025Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua visited Prof. Charles Choti and his wife, Dr. Truphena Choti, at their AfriThrive Cultural Farm in Poolesville, Maryland, and praised them for bringing Kenyan traditions to the world through their pioneering cultural initiative.
In a statement shared on his official social media channels on Friday, July 25, 2025, Gachagua explained that when he found himself in the middle of the United States, the villager instinct compelled him to search for his fellow villagers.
He added that when he visited Prof Choti’s AfriThrive Cultural Farm in Poolesville, Maryland, he was filled with delight at seeing the traditional African vegetables being grown there.
“You can take the villager out of the village, but you can’t take the village out of the villager,” Gachagua said.
“In the middle of the United States, the villager instinct in me went seeking out for my fellow villagers. Prof Charles Choti and his wife have brought the village right to the States. I was delighted to visit their AfriThrive Cultural Farm in Poolesville, MD, where they grow African traditional vegetables.”
Gachagua noted that thousands of Kenyans and other Africans were flocking to the farm in search of organically grown medicinal vegetables.
He expressed deep pride in the Kenyan spirit, emphasising that it thrives anywhere in the world and confidently places its culture and traditional practices on the global stage.
“Thousands of Kenyans and other Africans flock to this farm in search of medicinal vegetables grown organically. I am very proud of the Kenyan spirit of thriving anywhere in the world and placing our culture and traditional practices at the global stage,” he added.
Farm produce
The former deputy president added that he had been excited to refresh his memory that blackjack, though commonly thought to be a wild weed in other parts of the world, was actually both a delicious and medicinal vegetable.
He further urged Kenyans living in the US to take advantage of Prof Choti’s farm to access organically grown medicinal vegetables, including kunde, murenda, managu, okra, terere, and notably black jack (Bidens pilosa).
“I was excited to refresh my memory that the black jack (bidens pilosa), which, while elsewhere believed to be a wild weed, is indeed a delicious and medicinal vegetable,”.
“My people, Our dear people in the States take advantage of this farm and consume the kunde, murenda, managu, okra, terere, and the black jack grown right here by Prof. Choti.”
Gachagua has frequently appealed to Kenyans both at home and abroad to preserve and promote their cultural heritage.