- Some residents of western Kenya have even jumped at the opportunity to turn insect delicacies into a successful business
- The insects, which are black and small, are mainly seen during the rainy season from around 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in September to December
- Dennis Mboya, a resident of Matunda on the Kakamega, Bungoma, and Trans Nzoia border, observed that some people are named after the insects
For many people in western Kenya, the rainy season brings great joy in an uninterrupted supply of a natural delicacy, termites.
These particular termites can be eaten raw or cooked. Photo: Dennis Lubanga/ TUKO.co.ke.
Source: Original
The preparation of the termites requires time and expertise of this kind.
Some local residents have even gone so far as to jump at the opportunity to turn insect delicacies into a successful business.
What we know about termite harvesting
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Usually a small tent is erected and covered with blankets, leaving an opening leading to a special hole dug at the opening where the termites slide in and are collected.
The special hole is lined mostly with banana leaves inside and at the entrance where the termites slide and fall into the hold.
Sometimes, depending on the season, you have to get up as early as 2 a.m. to collect the insects.
These particular insects, which are black and small, are mainly seen during the rainy season from around 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in September to December.
Notable Luhya Names of Termites
Dennis Mboya, a resident of Matunda on the border of Kakamega, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties, narrated TUKO.co.ke that some people are named after these particular insects.
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“When a male is born, he can be called Waswa, and when it’s a female, she can be called Naswa in the Banyala sub-tribe,” Mboya said.
Mboya also revealed that insects benefit men as they make them strong.
“Men like to chew on these insects best for their valuable proteins and vitamins,” he said, noting that they can be eaten by anyone, regardless of the diseases they are fighting.
After the insects have been harvested, they are boiled in a little water and dried in the sun. Then they are ready to be eaten at that point.
Five local names for the termites
Against this background TUKO.co.ke looks at some of the local names of the insects.
1st Power (Kikuyu)
2. Chintuga (Kisii)
3. Chiswa (Luhya)
4. Kumbe kumbe (Wahili)
5. Ng’wen (Luo)
TUKO.co.ke previously reported that Lurambi MP Titus Khamala made Kenyans laugh with his latest video of termite chewing, called Kumbekumbe in Swahili.
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MP chews termites in hilarious video
In the one-minute video, the MP commented on a variety of issues, including the vetting of cabinet nominee Musalia Mudavadi.
Khamala also spoke about the behavior of modern preachers.
He also took the opportunity to urge men to eat the edible flying insects, saying that they were for their benefit.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
