I have been accused of being an Idealist whose views at times are divorced from the reality of living in the village. Whether that is true or not, this time karma has come to my rescue. Human activities have significantly affected the environment and The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) must take expedient measures to curb this catastrophe. First, it started with an obvious observation when I was in my home village in Nandi county, wetlands have been completely drained to the bottom rock. It is April and there is no significant difference between The North Eastern part of Kenya and Nandi county- the rivers, the wells, and the springs have or are drying up. There is an all-season swamp between Tulon and Kilibwoni, 15 years ago it was a no-go zone for unaccompanied children under the age of thirteen. Today, even with prolonged rains, the swamps cannot hold any water because of human activities which include farming and the planting of exotic trees that have altered the ecosystem.
The people are in a state of amnesia complaining of problems they have inflicted upon themselves for the love of money. When you say there is no water and you are cutting down all the ‘Lamaonik’ and replacing with the Eucalyptus, what do you expect? That is like sticking a knife on your toe and running around asking why you’re bleeding. I have argued before that nativity is key in conserving the environment- what is native to a place plays a key role in balancing that ecosystem. People are becoming so myopic and several species are disappearing without any worry. We used to share the swamps with the hare, Dik dik and ‘Mengitab bek’, and most of these species have been pushed to unknown places. The mosquitos are at your kitchen looking for water. Who is next?
Last year, NEMA issued an ultimatum (I fully supported) that all Eucalyptus trees in wetlands and other water catchment areas must be cut down before January 2019. It was a bitter pill to swallow; people were up in arms to defend their nefarious acts. My attempts to persuade them to see the big picture failed. I was told that I did not understand Kenya well to give any advice concerning the matter. People defend their acts in terms of ‘why wait’ until we have planted trees and then come and ask us to cut them. There were many court cases brought against NEMA by mostly the rich people, yet the same organization is currently being blamed for prolonged drought. It seems that in their own sense, they have heeded the former member of Parliament from the South rift that rain comes from the sky and not from trees. Other arguments in defense of this ignorant endeavor are that it is my land and I have a right to do what I want. Others choose to take the political approach: that the economy has left them with no choices other than to hug the slow death of environmental degradation. No one can point to specific marginal returns that have been accrued from choosing these alternatives.
Environment justice is urgent, and 2022 politics can wait or else all will be lost at once. Immediate measures must be put in place now and be enforced with the full force of the law or else hell will break loose. It won’t be the famine of Cherengendet or Mog’eek or Kimeut Sigiriet, but an Armageddon.
Mshamba Abroad 