Oftentimes we hear about certain shady enterprises that come and make headlines for the start, only to disappear without a trace- taking all the spoils of their loot. However, such familiar scams normally target the wealthy who invest in them just out of sheer curiosity. "Let's see how lucky we get," they reason. But rarely do we encounter the likes of Akenes and Kernels Ltd., a highly predatory corporate that preys on all categories of society, be it rich or poor, big or small. In Akenes' eyes, all are legit candidates for abuse. But sad as that may be, the company's CEO, on the other hand, is laughing all the way to the bank at how foolable Rwandans can be.
It all started in 2019 when this strangely messianic syndicate was birthed by a One Bertrand Nkulikiyimana, a member of the Belgian diaspora. This gentleman and his lieutenants made sure to recruit the right people for the job without fear or favor. They even didn't shy away from engaging whole institutions of government such as RAB, NAEB, MINALOC, MINAFFET, you name it. The men would soon swing into action preaching their newfound gospel of "chia" seeds, also known as Salvia Hispanica, as the one sure way to financial heaven for all that dwell in the land of a thousand hills. As One would expect at first, the too-good-to-be-true news was received with scepticism by ordinary countrymen, though they soon warmed up to these cute, shiny-looking, seeds and started planting en-masse. N'uko abaturage insina z'ibitoki si ukuzitema, bakora hasi; baguterera "Cyayisayidi" mugani wabo, sinakubwira!
In the farmer's perspective, the idea of having a crop One could sell at Rwf 3,000 per kilo made some economic sense. What did not add up, however, was how the same exact seeds could be bought at a hefty sum of Rwf 90,000 from this very company for anyone interested in bringing in their produce upon harvest. Also, the so-called technical support fees totaling Rwf 200,000 per hectare was just enough to inspire shock and awe. Clearly the red flags were in plain sight even at first glance, although no one could fathom the extent of the entire scheme. But boy, oh boy; talk of a lucrative racket, this is one hell of a killing.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Fast forward to the January 2022 harvest season, just three years later: Farmers upon delivering their harvest to Akenes and Kernels warehouses were told to go home and wait, with no reassurance for when they would get paid. All the hours spent working, all the days spent worrying, and all other individual sacrifices made thus far, suddenly rendered worthless. At times folks were even encouraged to get up early the following morning and queue up at their respective banks and SACCO's for payment, only to be disappointed. "Yves has wired your money," they were told- referring to a One Yves Ndayisenga, the company's Director of Finance. If that's not one reckless breach of social contract and public trust, then the gods must be crazy.
In other words, the chia cartel is telling these helpless individuals to just go and stand in their unweeded fields, watch their families starve, and wait for as long as they breath, while Mr. Ndayisenga and colleagues drink Champagne and pat each other on the back for a job well done. Talk of impunity, there you have it.
It gets even better with this Akenes and Kernels mayhem: Meanwhile, as the clueless farmers await their never-arriving payments, they're once again offered all the seeds they need to plant the next season at the good ol' price of Rwf 90,000 a kilogram. Except, the farmer doesn't get a new contract this time around. The contract, they say, "is still being processed and hasn't been signed yet." "We will give you a call when the document is ready," they assert. And then the hopeful farmer goes back to work on his shiny chia, but with no contract whatsoever. Notice how easier it will be to dismiss these hardworking Africans once their seeds are finally matured and ripe for buying? One could at this point be certain this second harvest will be bought at a much lesser price than previously anticipated, or even be rejected altogether. And even then, the same chia druglords will be running to the bank with a huge smile on their faces. Suffice to say, we're looking at a new breed of home-baked professional swindlers- La Cosa Nostra made-in-Rwanda.
In a nutshell, it is obvious that not only did Akenes and Kernels Ltd. successfully hoodwink the very organs entrusted with safeguarding the interests of the common men and women of this country, but also went against the actual values those institutions represent to further its own agenda at the expense of ordinary peasants. This mob is holding the masses at ransom and it would not be in anyone's best interest to simply fold back and allow the ugly beast to enjoy its meal.