Northern Kenya

Kinna, Merti residents want Mathenge eradication included in Isiolo spatial plan

Public participation on the Isiolo County 10-year-spatial and land use plan in Kinna town, Garbatulla Sub-County.(Photo: Handout)

By Waweru Wairimu | Thursday, July 4, 2024

Hussein Jillo, a Merti resident, said the species were contributing to a reduction in pastures and changing the flow of water in River Ewaso Nyiro which makes their livestock starve to death.

Kinna and Cherab ward residents in Isiolo have demanded the inclusion of a clear plan or strategy to prevent the spread of Prosopis Juliflora popularly known as Mathenge trees in the county government's 10-year-spatial and land use plan.

The residents including those in Merti lamented the continued devastation of the farmlands and rangelands by the invasive species, which are evergreen plants and multiply fast while colonising other plants, which they said had a toll on pastoralism which is their main economic stay.

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Hussein Jillo, a Merti resident, said the species were contributing to a reduction in pastures and changing the flow of water in River Ewaso Nyiro which makes their livestock starve to death.

"Our livelihoods are at risk. There is a need to come up with a sustainable plan to completely eliminate the Mathenge trees because they are slowly impoverishing us," he said.

Another resident, Abdi Waqo, said dozens of their livestock had died after feeding on the Mathenge tree thorns. "Many of our goats have few teeth following consumption of the pods," Abdi said.

Reports show that Mathenge tree thorns are poisonous and the pods make animal teeth decay or fall off if consumed in large quantities.

Public participation on the Isiolo County 10-year-spatial and land use plan in Merti town in Cherab ward. (Photo: Handout)

Saadia Konso lamented that animal milk production had reduced, affecting the nutrition status of their children.

Isiolo is among the 20 counties that grapple with the species alongside Marsabit, Kilifi, Samburu, Wajir, Turkana, Migori, Kajiado and Taita Taveta.

They spoke during a public participation exercise on the draft first-ever spatial and land use plan since devolution which seeks to ensure efficient land use in the next 10 years. The exercise brought together various stakeholders including religious leaders, elders, business community and rangeland committees.

The Kinna residents further insisted on the need for inclusion of ways to deal with poor drainage and waste disposal challenges in the region which contributes to flooding during the rainy season.

Concerns over poor access roads and land grabbing were also raised during the public engagement sessions.

"We hope this is not just for optics. We want the recommendations shared to be included in the plan," Abdia Yussuf from Bulapesa ward said, citing power connectivity, roads and water supply among the priorities for the area.

County Land and Physical Planning Chief Officer Francis Lekalasimi assured that the residents' input would be captured in the draft plan which will be submitted to the executive and county assembly for review before it is returned to the public for validation.