By Karlen Mutongoi
The Ukambani people claim that they can for sure say they
have witnessed that God is the provider their today and their tomorrow. Why say
so? Most people from other parts of the country blame them for not taking care
of their environment.
For years, they have been experiencing great famine but
through all this, they have gotten a way out. In 2009 as they recall the severe
famine that attacked both people and more so, their flock God provided a way
out. They dug out some roots tubers (Thurnbegiaguekeana)
locally known as “Marunzu” for their cattle. The tubers are found in many arid
and semi-arid lands and are highly nourishing and hold a lot of water,
providing some of the 60 litres a cow need per day. Also used was acacia pod
from acacia tree species too. Although they lost a lot what survived, they say thanks.
Early this year, they lacked enough rainfall and due to this
there is a great hunger experienced by the people but they still got away to
manage their lives. Between the months March and May 2013, most people involved
themselves in the activity of selling building ballast. The activity was a hard
to the people with no income.
“We had to carry stones, hammer them into pieces or even
digging underground to get material suitable for building in a place that is
not rocky”. It’s not just having the stones we had to transport the stones to
the nearby roads” said Katuni. For those who had no donkey to carry the ballast
they had to carry it on their back. People who also donkeys but would travel
for a long distance in the morning would use basket to carry the ballast. The ballast is measured using a wheelbarrow at
cost Ksh70 per wheelbarrow.” Says Katuki
Since May 2013 people have now changed their income
generating activities. They have
involved themselves into an immense charcoal burning in Kyuso district leading
to increased environmental degradation. Individuals involved are alleged to be
from Machakos County. This has led to the residents also turning into this
lucrative exercise. Although compared to the stones the charcoal has a greater
financial benefit which is Ksh500 per a sack although it is still negatively affecting
the district.
There is no big financial benefit that this activity is
bringing to the economy of kyuso sub-county and instead its causing depletion of
our natural forests and makes one wonder if this area will be able to cater for
lots of livestock reared around this place and which seems to be the larger
economic activity for the area is semi arid. There has been massive destruction
of vegetation as individuals clear the bush to put up kilns and a lot of
logging is taking place as the huge tree trunks are targeted.
This business is calling for government intervention as this
activity is putting the residents to a great risk in the near future because
the little grazing land will be vast and will not be able to support herds of
cattle and fleet of sheep and goats, which residents depend on for financial
gains and which are sold to buy food brought from the other well endowed
districts.
