Coconut tree: Coast region’s symbol of tradition, economic livelihood
For instance, coconut leaves are woven into mats and baskets, the husks provide fuel and the nutritious flesh and water are dietary staples.
The Coast region prides itself on having diverse treasures that the communities living there, particularly the Mijikenda, identify them with. The Mijikenda are a group of nine Bantu-speaking ethnic groups.
The name Mijikenda means ‘the nine settlements’ or ‘the nine communities’ in Bantu languages which are the Giriama, Duruma, Chonyi, Digo, Jibana, Kambe, Kauma, Rabai, and Ribe.
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Among the treasures that the Mijikenda boast of is the coconut tree.
The humble coconut is treated as the ‘gold of the Coast’, as it stands out as a symbol of both tradition and economic livelihood.
Coconuts have been a lifeline for many Coast residents.
In the coastal areas such as Kwale, Kilifi, Kaloleni, Tezo, Chasimba, Chumani, Msabaha, Malindi, Garithe, and Ngomeni, every part of the coconut tree is useful, reflecting a deep connection to the environment and resourcefulness that has sustained families for centuries.
The coconut tree has more than ten benefits.
For instance, coconut leaves are woven into mats and baskets, the husks provide fuel and the nutritious flesh and water are dietary staples.
Coconut oil extracted through traditional methods is a prized commodity known for its culinary and medicinal properties.
In an interview with The Eastleigh Voice, Garithe Mijikenda elder Nzai Randu noted that the economic impact of coconut farming in the coastal areas cannot be overstated.
Coconut trees in Faza, Lamu East. (Farhiya Hussein)
Cooking oil can be extracted from the dried coconut meat, which is also used to make soaps and detergents.
Building materials
Karisa says building materials like timber can also be extracted from coconut trees.
Hard shells can be used for charcoal and construction while fibrous husks can be used for coir, rope and handicrafts.
The long coconut leaves are used for the thatching and decoration of houses along the coastal areas.
Randu insists that most smallholder farmers like himself have been relying on coconut sales to support their families, including paying school fees and investing in their communities.
He says coconut trees provide raw materials for many industries, including cosmetics, fashion, and fertilisers.
Another use of coconut raw materials is folk medicine with coconut leaves being used to make traditional medicine to treat fevers, headaches, and diarrhoea.
Randu reiterates that the coconut tree has cultural and religious significance in many societies, especially among the Mijikenda.
“We value coconut so much. In the coastal region, you will witness local markets bustling with activities driven by the trade of coconut products such as copra (dried coconut flesh), coconut milk and virgin coconut oil. We view coconut as the gold of the Coast,” said Randu.
Coconut trees in Faza, Lamu East. (Farhiya Hussein)
Tree of life
Kadzo Menza, a coconut farmer in the Msabaha area of Malindi terms the coconut as the tree of life due to its long lifespan. A farmer can pass the plants on to future generations.
The coconut plant has for years been one of the tourist attractions in the coastal area as many visitors to the area are always welcomed with green coconut known as ‘madafu’ and its water.
Menza notes that coconut delicacy, especially the madafu and its water, are so cool, so natural to an extent that they beat cold soda.
“Madafu water even helps you lose weight. It’s rich in potassium and other minerals crucial to the body,” said Menza.
Coconuts are used to make various body and hair oils, lotions and even cooking oil.
The local alcohol ‘mnazi’ is another valued product of the coconut tree. Mnazi is a traditional alcoholic beverage made from palm tree sap that is popular in Kenya’s coastal region. It's also known as palm wine, palm toddy, or toddy.
Mnazi is an important source of income for many people.
“Mnazi is our symbol of identity as Mijikenda and coastal people at large. We value it so much. The coconut tree itself is important for many reasons, including food, building materials, and economic opportunities,” said Karisa Baya.
The coconut tuber is another crucial part of the tree which provides various benefits.
Coconut tubers are the young part of the coconut stem that has a sweet, crunchy flavour and has many culinary applications. The tuber helps make dishes crunchier, delicious, refreshing, and rich in flavour. It is often used to prepare dishes such as salads, salads and soups among others.
In addition, coconut tubers can also be used to make snacks like dried coconut tubers, and crispy fried coconut tubers.
Making handicrafts
Coconut fibre is used for a variety of purposes, from producing construction materials and making handicrafts and other uses in farming.
Coconut trees also provide various environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, soil erosion control, and protection of the coastal area.
It is due to such crucial benefits of coconut that the government has been making various efforts to boost farming amongst coastal coconut farmers, including the introduction of high-yield hybrid coconut trees that mature faster and have high yields.
In 2023, for instance, the government in collaboration with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and the Kilifi County government imported and distributed 6,000 Sampoorna hybrid coconut seedlings from India for a pilot programme targeting farmers in the region.
Other counties including Lamu, Tana River, Taita Taveta and Kwale also imported the seedlings.
A 2022 report by the Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate indicated that a total of 84,906 hectares of land in Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River and Taita Taveta counties was covered by coconuts in 2020, compared to 77,556 hectares in 2021.
The report further indicated that 110,013 tonnes of coconuts valued at Sh5 million were produced in 2020, a slight decrease from 86,554 tonnes valued at Sh5.5 million in 2021.
The newly introduced variety of coconut matures between two-and-a-half to three years and coastal farmers in the pilot programme regarded it as a game changer.
Currently, coconut prices at the farm range from Sh10 and Sh50 and retail between Sh30 and Sh100 depending on the market location.
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