Young environmentalist on mission to restore forest cover in Eastern region

Kyee Mbatha shares fond memories and the joy of waking up early to take a deep breath and listen to chirping birds as leafy trees in Nguswini village in Kambu, Makueni County homestead swung from left to right.

The 32-year-old made it a ritual to dash out of the house to inhale fresh air and capture the feel of the cool breeze sweeping across the compound.

He describes his parents’ three-acre homestead back then as a sight to behold. “Passersby would briefly make a stop at our farm to have a glimpse of the oasis of green vegetation as neighbouring homesteads agonised how to cope with the early heatwaves and hot air in the atmosphere,” he recounts.

“We were always proud of the abundant trees we had at home and the recognition we earned from locals,” continues Mbatha.

It was the passion by his parents who had not been in any conservation class and lack of knowledge by locals in his area on matter tree planting that inspired Mbatha at an early age to pursue the road of an environmentalist.

This ambition catapulted him to the rare fame of an environmental crusader.

To attain the status, Mbatha knew a sound education background was crucial, a realisation that ensured he remained top of the class at Nzoila Primary School in the county.

He then went to Tudor High School in Mombasa County and Egerton University where he graduated with a degree in ecotourism management.

While at the university, authorities tasked him with the responsibility of setting up a team of students who would take up the responsibility of rehabilitating the degraded Mau Forest Complex and Catchment Basin.

His team planted trees around Shururu area in Nakuru County and embarked on a mission to rehabilitate and conserve Njoro River.

The assignment was an eye opener to the reality back home.

“If I could save the catchment and the river, then I felt I had an obligation to do the same for my people,” says Mbatha adding, “A lot needed to be done in Makueni County and the rest of the greater eastern region ravaged by prolonged droughts.”

He explains climate change coupled with food insecurity have become the most serious challenges to communities living in lower eastern parts of the country.

He says with unpredictable and inadequate rains, droughts have become more frequent. Farmers who rely on rain-fed agriculture for subsistence farming have been counting losses after their maize and other crops prematurely dry in their farms. “As a result, many families living in Makueni, Kitui and Machakos counties are facing starvation. The climate in these areas has changed and the only way to cope is by growing fruit trees that are known to survive harsh climatic conditions,” he says, noting that this will yield double benefits since the farmers will not only be fighting climate change, but also ensure food security for their families and generate some income when they sell their fruits.

Devastating impact

Clearing of trees for charcoal in the three counties and Kajiado County is also blamed for the crises of prolonged drought cycle and biting hunger.

The consequence of deforestation has been serious food shortage, malnutrition, local rivers drying up while livestock perish in thousands, explains Mbatha.

Speaking to People Daily ahead of World Environment Day, Mbatha narrated how he has been confronting the devastating impact of climate change caused by deforestation in the four counties from several fronts.

One is the unique initiative of renting out his car, not to be paid in hard currency, but to be given fruit tree seedlings, which he later distributes and plants in various institutions and homesteads in dry areas. “With 100 mango or orange tree seedlings one can hire my car for two days. I will then donate and plant these fruit trees in a school or a children’s home of a client’s choice.

This takes place in either Makueni, Kitui and Machakos Counties to ensure food security for the young ones and teaching staff in these institutions, but also help fight climate change. “Many Kenyans have responded positively to this initiative. I only own one car and at times it is fully booked for a week or so,” he smiles.

Fruit trees

“Some of the clients who hire my car do it just to confirm if truly I receives fruit seedlings instead of cash. They also want to know if indeed these fruit tree reach the specified beneficiaries or not,” he adds.

This initiative comes with some challenges, as well. In some occasions when I rent out my car, it is retuned with mechanical issues, which means I have to cater for the repair charges from my personal sources.

Besides renting out the car for trees he uses cartoon art on all my social media platforms to create awareness on the need to plant and protect trees.

This initiative dubbed Captain Green Chronicles is published on his social media platforms every Monday.

He was instrumental in the formation of a grassroots community-based organisation to help in the efforts to tame climate change.

With a few friends passionate about the environment, he founded the Green Institution Community-Based Organisation.

Its core mandate is to grow arid and fruit trees in learning, social and religious institutions in the entire lower Eastern region, including Kajiado county.

For the last one year, we have donated and planted over 50,000 trees of different species to over 100 various institutions, says Mbatha.

“We also nurture the culture of tree planting and environmental conservation among the communities in these institutions and mostly school children with surety that this culture will be passed on to the future generations.”