Ban on charcoal production from ‘Mathenge’ to be lifted
By KNA, June 20, 2022Pastoralist communities whose land has been invaded and livelihoods destroyed by the Prosopis plant, popularly known as Mathenge, will soon heave a sigh of relief as the government plans to lift an embargo on elimination of the invasive plant, Environment and Forestry CS Keriako Tobiko has said.
Presiding over this year’s World Desertification and Drought Day national commemoration at Eldume Primary School in Baringo South, Tobiko said 20 counties affected by Mathenge had been given two weeks to form and register Prosopis charcoal producers associations.
Tobiko, who was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo and his counterpart in the State Department of Arid Lands Micah Powon, also directed land owners whose farms have been colonised by Mathenge to work with village elders and chiefs to form Land Owners Associations that will ensure no other tree save for prosospis is cut down for charcoal burning.
He said the President will thereafter lift the ban on cutting down the Mathenge plants for charcoal production.
“The village elders and the chiefs will ensure that no other trees are cut down for charcoal,” he stated.
Food crops
Tobiko noted that after touring 20 counties affected by the prosopis to assess its impact, they realised that a total of one million acres of land had been colonised by the invasive plant that spreads at a rate of 15 per cent yearly.
The situation, he observed, was no longer a livelihood issue but had become a national security threat.
Earlier, the CS visited a model farm of a retired chief in Salabani location where he expressed satisfaction that it is possible for the prosopis to be cut down and the land reclaimed for growing food crops and pasture.
Former chief Francis Kibirich of Meisori village has reclaimed 12 acres of his land and planted pasture which he feeds his animals and sells the surplus.
Original objective
The Prosopis plant, introduced in early 1980s with the objective of checking desertification and soil erosion, has been blamed by pastoralists for causing them to untold suffering like destroying their livestock’s teeth, curtailing undergrowth, taking over grazing fields and blocking critical water channels.
During the world desertification and drought celebration, organised farmer groups and host school were issued with five 10,000-litre water tanks, 100 modern beehives, four water pumps and 10 improved Galla goat bucks.
On Politics, the CS asked leaders to exercise sobriety and respect as they solicit for votes reiterating that campaigns should be conducted in a peaceful manner devoid of name calling and maligning, saying elections come and go but the people will remain.
“I advise you people to hold peaceful elections regardless of the political divide you belong to. I urge politicians not to mix politics with the environment because politics would come and go but the environment doesn’t know whether people are in a political group,” he said.
Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren also called for peaceful campaigns, saying the electorate should be left free to elect leaders of their own choice.
Kamuren, who is defending his seat on a UDA ticket, asked the national government to beef up security in the region characterised by banditry and cattle rustling menace to allow residents to cast their votes in a peaceful environment.
Governor Stanley Kiptis urged the government to restore peace especially in Mukutani Location and its neighbouring villages where bandits have evicted locals.
Other senior government officials who attended the celebration included National Environment Management Authority (Nema) Director General Mamo B. Mamo and board chair Lul Abdiwahid.