Kenya: Toxic Plant Can Be Black Gold

Muchemi Wachira 3 August 2011

Almost four years have passed since a toothless goat was produced in court and the Government was ordered to investigate the damage caused by the Mathenge shrub.

And now the people most affected by the poisonous plant are being asked to turn to burning it for charcoal in order to make a living.

The High Court in 2007 obligingly declared Mathenge a poisonous plant, ordered the Government to destroy it, and instructed a commission to be set up to recommend the level of damages payable as compensation.

The case, which the Ilchamus community from Marigat took on the Government, created much interest especially when the Ilchamus took a toothless goat to court to show the damage the plant had caused. The goat, they said, had lost its teeth after eating the plant.

Yet although it was hailed as a huge victory for the community, their lawyer Thomas Letangule commented, "it was only a victory on paper since nothing has been implemented."

Mathenge, which botanically is called Prosopis Juliflora, was introduced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) jointly with the Government in 1983.

It was intended to curb soil erosion and desertification in arid and semi-arid areas of the county like Marigat.

"The intention was good as the shrub stopped soil erosion but what the Government failed to do is to carry out proper research on its side effects," explained Mr Amos Lempaka who led the community in suing the Government.

In Mukutani, Marigat, Mathenge was planted in three sites; Salabani, Ng'ambo and Eldune.

"The areas where soil erosion used to take place became evergreen even during the dry season. The plant did well until after some years when we started experiencing its side effects," Mr Lempaka recalled.

He said the shrub spread very fast even into areas where it was not intended to grow and started blocking waterways and streams, causing floods.

In Nga'mbo, for instance, most of the livestock were swept away by the running waters. Schools and hospitals were forced to close down.

Even today Ng'ambo Dispensary has remained closed because it is still submerged. In the court case the community argued a number of people had their legs or hands amputated after being pierced by Mathenge thorns.

The community also complained indigenous trees had been choked by roots of the shrub. "The roots of Mathenge penetrate deeper and poison other plants. And when the plants shed their flowers they affect productivity of the soil because they are toxic," the court was told.

Mr Edward Juma, the Rift Valley provincial director of environment, confirmed that Mathenge was toxic but said the troublesome tree could still turn the financial fortunes of the residents who are now cutting it down for charcoal.

The community at Mukutani agrees with Mr Juma, saying they are now realising the benefits of the plant because they have set up businesses selling charcoal.

Through the Kenya Forestry Research Institute and the environment ministry, the Government has been training people how to exploit the shrub.

Mr Juma said the people could make good money if they stick to charcoal burning because the shrub regenerates very quickly.

However, some of the Ilchamus, who are pastoralists, are finding it hard to change their occupation from herding to charcoal burning.

People do not have a ready market for the charcoal and they have to sell a bag for Sh350.

"In our tradition, charcoal burning is done by the most poor or the low level people, otherwise people walk tall if they own large herds of livestock.

"So how do you tell them to turn into charcoal business?" asked Mr Elijah Letangule, the director of civic education outreach at the Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

But charcoal burning would perhaps turn around the fortunes of Marigat people if those involved in the trade could form cooperative societies.

That is what the Government is encouraging them to do and Mr Juma said that with their own cooperatives, they would be dictating prices for their charcoal instead of being exploited by middlemen.

The community is also using the shrub to make logs for fencing. Because the weed produces poisonous thorns they have prevented cattle raiders from constantly attacking the Ilchamus.

"The thorns have actually kept the cattle raiders at bay," Mr Lempaka said. In addition some companies have started showing an interest in making animal feeds from the pod in spite of that toothless goat.

Source: All Africa