Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has faced outrage for hinting at reintroducing the outlawed Shamba System, which allows people to grow crops in the forest.
Speaking on Saturday, September 24, Gachagua stated that the system was critical in boosting the country’s food production and even helping to address the recurrent hunger crisis.
The Deputy President, who had attended the burial of late Baringo deputy governor Charles Kipng’ok, assured residents that President William Ruto’s government was trying to ensure the system returns in a more organized manner without causing forest destruction.
“You know these forests belong to the citizens. You are the ones guarding them. There is a CS who came in and barred people from even picking leaves for cooking.”
“In the forest, we had Shamba System, where citizens were allocated land to plant maize while at the same time ploughing the trees. We will issue an order for you to resume planting in the forests so that we increase food production in the country. We will give guidelines on how to plant in the forest without destroying the trees,” Gachagua stated.
Nonetheless, he urged farmers to be patient until the government appoints a Cabinet Secretary who would effectively handle the matter.
However, the second in charge was chastised for his remarks, with the opposition and environmental activists recalling that the system was prohibited in 2003 in response to harsh criticism by former Environment Assistant Minister Wangari Maathai.
Maathai said that the system had been exploited by allowing farmers to convert vast portions of indigenous forests into farmlands. Before the system was prohibited in the country, it was blamed for the devastation of Mount Elgon Forest, where people removed trees and others encroached on forest property.
“We cannot sacrifice indigenous forests at the expense of exotic plantations. Plantations represent a monoculture of trees, but a forest is an ecology system,” she insisted.
Senator Ledama Ole Kina of Narok called out the second in charge, claiming that his directive would endanger the forest.
“So this Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is inviting Kenyans to go and invade Mount Kenya, Aberdare and Nandi forests. Â When is the induction session for the deputy president on what he can and cannot do? My friend, you are not above the law!” Ledama cautioned.Â
