A Kenyan farmer found precious bounty in his barren fields. By Denis Maina Gathanju

When he was allocated 50 hectares of dry land in southeastern Kenya soon after independence in 1963, Naftli Githinji Waigwa was heartbroken. “How can I ever grow crops in such a dry area?” a distraught Waigwa complained.

John Gitonga, his best friend, asked how he could complain when he had yet to see the land for himself. The two young men were reminded of a traditional custom among their tribe, the Kikuyu, in which one is never supposed to get choosey when given something; one is to receive it with open arms.

So the two men, in a new independent Kenya, decided to keep the pieces of land in far-off Taita Taveta district of Kenya’s Coast province.

Today, more than four decades since they were allocated the land, Waigwa and Gitonga are grateful for adhering to the old Kikuyu proverb.

“I could never have imagined myself in my current state then,” says a delighted Waigwa, his old, wrinkled hands trembling as he holds a small bright red stone. “This,” he softly says, “is the kind of harvest I get from my ‘farm’ in Taita Taveta.

“It’s a ruby,” he continues, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

Waigwa says he discovered the existence of rubies in his farm by accident. “It was during my third visit to the farm in early 1974 that I discovered that the barren land I had almost rejected was a blessing in disguise,” the 68-year-old explains.

“I wanted to see how the laborer had progressed in clearing the grasslands so that I could start growing maize on a small portion of the land. I also wanted to put up a small temporary shelter that could double up as a [storage building] as well,” he adds.

However, when his workers were digging holes for the poles, an unusually reddish soil with large particles was discovered in one of the holes.

“I did not know what this was,” he says as he mocks his own lack of knowledge about geology back then.

Snapshots of the Kenyan landscape.

After showing a friend one such stone he had brought to Nairobi, Waigwa was advised to approach one of the many Indian dukawallahs (traders) in Nairobi who seemed interested in buying colored rocks and stones.

“The Indian excitedly whispered, ‘ruby’,” says Waigwa. “He offered to buy the stone for ten shillings and asked me to bring more.”

After doing business with the Indian trader for more than six months, Waigwa found a European trader who offered a better price.

Waigwa has been mining rubies on his farm ever since, but has been limited to small-scale mining due to lack of proper machinery and capital.

T.C. Davies, a chartered geologist and geology consultant, conducted geological examinations and evaluations of the Waigwa mine in 1994 and 2000 in order to determine the appropriate depth at which gem-quality ruby is expected to be found.

TOP: Naftali Waigwa displays ruby-bearing rock mined from his mine. ABOVE: Cabochon grade II ruby mined from the Waigwa Mines. Photos by Denis Maina Gathanju.

The survey consisted of sampling, characterization and tracing of veins, host rock, and associated materials, as well as taking various structural measurements.

“The results indicated the likelihood of intersecting large reserves of ruby — cabochon quality — at depths of about 20 to 22 cm from the surface, especially where veins crisscross,” says Davis.

No precise mathematical calculations of ruby ore reserves in the mine were made at that time, and the judgment on substantial ruby reserves was based on what Davis considered as continuity and consistency of productive veins with depth.

His judgment was also based on evidence of high recovery rate of ruby ore from adjacent mines of similar geological environment. He believes that the reserves of ruby in the Waigwa mine are substantial.

“The length of time required to reach the highly productive ruby zone could be as short as one year,” he speculates, “but this will, of course, depend upon the provision of adequate resources, largely in the form of machinery and personnel.”

At the time of Davis’ evaluation report, digging at Waigwa mine had progressed down to depths of 7 and 9 meters and the rubies recovered were reported to be lighter and brighter than those found at the nearby aquamarine mine. They display a pinkish purplish color.

“Taking into account the geological altitude of the productive veins in the mines investigated, it is clearly evident that the rich ruby zone cannot be much farther than say, about 20 meters from the surface,” adds Davis.

The Waigwa mine consists of a number of small plots each measuring less than 20 square meters, two of which are currently being worked.

According to F.G. Theuri, a geology lecturer at the University of Nairobi, rubies from Waigwa mines tend to be lighter and brighter than rubies from other locales. “They also display a rather strong pink to purple-pink element,” he says. “Most of the stones found in Waigwa Mines are of fine cabochon to sub-cabochon grade, but sometimes one encounters clear pieces.

“Tiny exsolved particles are often present but actual rutile silk is absent. However, star stones are likely to be obtained from Waigwa Mines,” Theuri explains.

In the process of evaluation of the Waigwa Mines, he adds, “[I believe] the possibility of there being rubies whose value is in the excess of US$4 million.”

The value of $4 million, he says, is the value projected in the development plan of the mine — 800 kilograms of cabochon grade ruby at a price of $5 per gram.

According to Theuri, the prices if applied to the $4 million would suggest the availability of 8 kg of gem ruby at $500 per gram, 40 kg of semi-gem ruby at $100 per gram, and 80 kg of cabochon grade ruby at $50 per gram. Such qualities of ruby he says are available in the host rocks found at Waigwa Mines.

While a large portion of the vast land remains untouched, Waigwa says that old age and ill health have finally caught up with him. This coupled with lack of proper machinery and capital have necessitated him to put up the mine for sale.

Despite his determination to sell, both mine plots are being worked at the Waigwa Mine using a labor force of about 15 men, a compressed air machine, and a few items for drilling and rock-breaking equipment. Waigwa is confident that with proper investment in machinery and workers, a new investor could reach high-grade material within a year — a fine gift indeed from this barren land.

November/December 2006 • Kenya: With Open Arms • Women With Tools • News & Updates • In This Issue • Visit the Tucson Show Guide