Bulrush Millet (Uwele, Mawele, Mwele, Miwele). In Kenya, bulrush millet (also known as pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum) is especially well-known for being used to make kinaa, a milk paste that is a beloved and convenient meal for nomads, herders, and travelers. The product is made by roasting dried bulrush millet and grinding it into a smooth flour. It can then be combined with milk and consumed as needed. It’s easy to carry the milk and flour separately for on-the-go cooking, and it’s satisfying and nourishing.
It is high in fiber and vitamin B1. Additionally, the paste is frequently used to wean young children. Today, individuals produce a similar paste using roasted maize, which lacks the nutritious properties of millet kinaa. The bulrush millet used to make kinaa is suited for dry and semi-arid regions; in the past, children would chase away the birds that ate it from the area around Ukambani, where it was once commonly farmed. Due of its popularity among birds and the high crop loss to animals, this particular species of millet is now seldom planted in schools during the day.
In the Syiembeni region, a women’s organization that provides care for orphans and vulnerable children keeps a plot of bulrush millet. Some farmers are now putting their produce next to roadways in the hopes that the noise from the traffic would deter the birds from attacking the crop. The average yearly output among individuals who continue to produce the crop is around 10 kilogram. This crop is currently listed as endangered in the area due to its labor-intensive cultivation and lack of predator protection; individuals who want to continue manufacturing traditional kinaa must use expensive, imported bulrush millet.
