Destructive to more destructive

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.