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Wednesday, 22 October 2014

Lecturer in Jaramongi Odinga University Makes Biscuits Out of Crickets

One of the reasons why Kenya is a favourite destination is because of its distinct cuisine and it seems it might get more distinct if the following unfolding is anything to go by.

Professor Monica Ayieko reckons that insects are an important cuisine that should form part of everyone’s diet and that’s why the help of her students embarked on making biscuits, sausages, muffins using the insects.

A PHD student in consumer sciences from the University of Illinois, she started the project in 2012 after an extensive research on the insects nutritional value and started by roaring insects.

After realising how “easy” it is to rear crickets, she recruited interested farmers in Siaya and Homa Bay counties. 

Currently, 561 farmers rear crickets in Nyanza. Some 25 farmers in Bomet were also recently trained on the project by the university. 

The farmers sell the insects to a large market of consumers at Sh500 per kilo, which Ayieko says is enough for two meals for a family of five to six.

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