How Innocent Farmers Fell for the Rumex Framing Scam
Kelvin Wairimu 
Rumex crispus
Kenyan farmers have once again fallen victim to a well-orchestrated agricultural scam, losing millions of shillings to a fraudulent investment scheme centered around Rumex farming. A non-governmental organization (NGO) lured farmers in Nyeri, Laikipia, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Embu with promises of buying Rumex at an astonishing price of Ksh. 10,000 per kilogram.
But like many scams before it—quails, rabbit urine, chameleons, and fake export crops—this one had a hidden agenda: selling overpriced seedlings.
How the Scam Worked
Farmers, desperate for a lucrative opportunity, purchased Rumex seedlings from Salushi Empowerment Organization at Ksh. 2,000 to Ksh. 5,000 per seedling. Some went all in, spending as much as Ksh. 60,000 for 30 seedlings, believing they would soon reap millions in profits.
However, a closer look at Rumex reveals a harsh reality—it is merely a weed commonly found in Asian countries, with some medicinal properties like laxative and anti-inflammatory effects. The organization exploited this narrative to justify the absurdly high prices, knowing well that farmers were blinded by the promise of quick riches.
Read Also: The Untold Truth about Bulb Onion Farming in Kenya
The Classic Playbook of Agricultural Scams
The Remex scam followed a well-known script used in past farming frauds:
- Target rural farmers – Preferably women’s groups, churches, and local cooperatives, where trust spreads quickly.
- Create initial hype – Set up a model farm, use early adopters to spread success stories, and conduct free training sessions to convince others.
- Artificially boost confidence – Buy the first small harvest at inflated prices to create a referral effect and attract more victims.
- No legally binding contracts – Keep everything verbal to avoid accountability once things collapse.
- Raise quality standards suddenly – When farmers begin large-scale production, shift goalposts by demanding impossible quality requirements to reject their produce.
- Disappear with profits – Once enough farmers have invested and the market is saturated, vanish overnight, leaving farmers stranded with worthless crops.
This scam pattern is identical to past farming frauds, such as:
- Quail farming – Hyped as a goldmine, collapsed when demand dried up.
- Rabbit urine business – Sold as a miracle export product but turned out to be a hoax.
- Chameleon exports – Promised high returns but had no real buyers.
The Harsh Reality: If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
Think about it. If Rumex farming was truly that profitable, wouldn’t the organizers be growing it themselves in large-scale commercial farms instead of selling seedlings?
A golden rule in investment: No millionaire will train you on how to make a million. If they do, their income is probably coming from your “subscription fee,” not from the business itself.
The next time someone approaches you with a “guaranteed profit” farming scheme, ask yourself one simple question:
Why aren’t they doing it themselves on a massive scale?
Until farmers start questioning too-good-to-be-true deals, these scams will keep thriving.
Stay informed, stay sceptical, and always do your research before investing in any farming venture.
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