Nairobi — It easily passes as an oasis in a desert. Surrounding farms, most of them without fences, are patches of earth still reeling from ravages of the yet to subside drought.

But here, cabbages and kales have defied the scorching sun, and remained green throughout the dry season. The tomatoes, some ripening, hang loosely on supported plants, while a robust Aloe vera crop completes the picturesque farm.

Yet this is Isinya area, one of the driest belts in Kajiado district. About five kilometres along the Kitengela-Kajiado road, this is just a section of the 20-acre farm where released leader of the outlawed Mungiki sect is settling down.

Complete contrast

Serene and protected by various types of trees that surround the palatial home, this is Maina Njenga's second home, some kilometres away from the more known maisonette in Kitengela.

Only a day after he was released from custody, Njenga was back at his farm. He spent last Saturday inspecting it, and sometimes giving a hand to his workers.

It is a complete contrast from what you would expect from a prisoner's farm. Farm activities have been going on since he was arrested in 2006.

The home was built while he was in prison in Naivasha and was where he spent Day One of his freedom on Friday night with a few friends and relatives. It cost more than Sh16 million, according to the contractor who was present during the interview.

"My friends and supporters built this home for my children. They said the Kitengela home was not conducive as it has been mutilated by security officers," he said as he took the Daily Nation for an exclusive tour of the farm on Saturday.

Within the compound, some 15 workers were putting final touches on a Sh8 million guest house. "As a leader, I need a place where my visitors can sleep if they get late," Njenga said.

During the farm tour, Njenga who was wearing grey shorts, a brown jacket, a black and yellow striped casual shirt with open shoes, was also carrying a panga (machete).

When we arrived at an 8-acre Napier grass plot, he cut some fodder which was ferried to a cattle shed. There are eight cows, five of which are high producing Friesians and a Jersey.

Next to the shed is a rabbit hutch with 100 rabbits while about 200 free range chicken roamed around. What is perhaps the most astounding is that there is no borehole in the farm and the crops are never watered.

"This is a dry area and we can only buy water for the animals. I also do not know how our crops do well without water," said the farm manager, a Mr King'ori.

This is not the only place Njenga engages in farming. At the Kitengela farm, he has 600 sheep and goats, while another 140-acre farm, still in Kajiado, is under development. He said farming was key in economic empowerment and appealed to sect members to go back to farming.

"Those who ask for Sh100 from matatus they are wasting their lives. They are not our members because they can never achieve economic independence that way," he concluded the tour.