Pastoralist communities whose land has been invaded and livelihoods destroyed by the Prosopis plant, also known as Mathenge, will soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief, as the government plans to lift an embargo on the invasive plant’s eradication, according to Environment and Forestry CS Keriako Tobiko.
Tobiko said 20 counties impacted by Mathenge had been given two weeks to organize and register Prosopis charcoal producers groups while presiding over this year’s World Desertification and Drought Day national commemoration at Eldume Primary School in Baringo South.
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 form Land Owners Associations with village elders and chiefs to ensure that no other tree is cut down for charcoal burning except prosospis.
According to him, the President will lift the ban on cutting down the Mathenge plants for charcoal manufacture after that.
“The village elders and the chiefs will ensure that no other trees are cut down for charcoal,” he stated.
