A local indigenous farmer at the southern part of Kitui County is a happy man after discovering a golden wonder soil capable of significantly bringing down the cost of construction.
Farmer Michael Kivoto who hails from the suburbs of Mutomo trading center, located south of Kitui town in a small village called Mwala stumbled on the wonder soil now dubbed by local as “Mwalanite Limesoil” which bears similar characteristics with that of cement and could be used for various construction needs.
The newly discovered local ‘cement’ which is pale white in colour has been locally tested and found to be fit as a mortar for walling by using ordinary baked bricks, quarry stones and machine cut bricks.
“After testing and being applied by local users, they have appreciated that its results are very impressive,” Kivoto said while speaking to Kenya News Agency at his home.
He added that other construction materials made from the newly discovered raw material are construction bricks, cabro, interlocking blocks, fencing posts. The raw material is also turning good results for plastering and fixing tiles.
Kivoto, who has dealt with and has experience when it comes to handling Mwalanite Limesoil from his farm is impressed by the results and is optimistic that his discovery would ease the burden of construction for many average Kitui residents who yearn for permanent houses but were discouraged by the price of construction materials such as cement in the market today which is currently retailing at Sh780.
For anyone using Mwalanite Limesoil, you only need a small portion of cement; that is a 50kg bag of cement to seven wheelbarrows of the raw material.
“With 50kg bag of a cement and seven wheelbarrow of the wonder soil, there is no use of sand and therefore you get a permanent and strong building,” Kivoto affirmed.
He stressed that ordinarily, a bag of cement is usually mixed with four wheelbarrows of sand. However, with his Mwalanite Lime soil, a raw material which has been discovered four feet below the surface on his farm, there is no need for sand application.
Speaking to reporters at his farm, Kivoto proved his point by showing the KNA journalists the bricks made of the soil, tiles fixed with the soil, fencing posts and an upcoming small house done with the soil and plastered with the same.
The plaster is tough hard and even when used to construct a water tank, the material is not porous.
“This is something that should be embraced by all. This type of raw material is found elsewhere and people need to be educated on its valuable use,” says Kivoto whose upcoming storey house has a foundation made of the material.
Kivoto reassures the users of his Mwalanite Limesoil that it is worth a shot and it has worked for him and saved him some money that he could have wasted buying unnecessary bags of packed cement.
He also claims that his neighbours who have witnessed the wonder soil have started flocking to his home to buy the raw material.
Mwalanite Limesoil is also good for road construction especially in areas where roads become impassable during the rains. What is needed is only a ratio of one bag of cement to 10 wheelbarrows of the soil for a permanent solution.
The now, popular farmer says he is open to share more with those willing to learn from him and his new discovery.
By Denson Mututo and Glory Ndanu
