It
is an alien tree. A tree that was introduced into Kenya with the aim of using it as a raw material in the generation of electricity. However, the
alien tree has caused more harm than
good.
As
you drive from Tana River County towards Garissa County, you will notice a change
in the vegetation. The vegetation changes from the shrubby Acacia trees to lash
green and bushy Mathenge trees.
Like
a bush fire, the Mathenge tree is spreading fast in Garissa County. The tree
has taken over much of the river banks of the Tana River. It is difficult nowadays
to find acacia trees in the southern parts of Garissa.
The
areas that have been affected most by the Mathenge tree are Ijara, Masalani, and
Bura. The residents of these areas do not know who introduced the tree into their homeland.
Just
like in Baringo County, the Mathenge tree has posed a lot of challenges to the
residents of Garissa County. Camels, goats, sheep and donkeys fall sick whenever they
ingest the ever green leaves of the Mathenge tree. The Acacia trees which has
been the preferred diet for goats, sheep and camels have been taken over by the
Mathenge tree.
Every
time the seasonal rains fail to kick in in good time, the pastoralists in
Garissa County quickly run out of pasture for their livestock. Much of the
fertile grounds are now dominated by the Mathenge tree.
The
true motives of whoever introduced the Mathenge tree are yet to known clearly. The
fact that the tree is also being spread to other semi-arid areas leaves little
doubt over the kind of motives behind the Mathenge tree.
The
Mathenge weed is subjecting many residents to substantial risk of food insecurity.
A thorough probe needs to be undertaken to unearth the people behind this alien
tree. In the case that the government supported its introduction into the
country, questions need to be asked as to whether the government carried out
sufficient research into the alien tree.
The
worst aspect of the Mathenge tree is its effects on humans. The Mathenge tree
has very long thorns. Indeed, it is a challenge to work with barefoot on the
Southern parts of Garissa without the risk of getting injured by one or two
Mathenge thorns.
Domestically,
the Mathenge tree has little value. The tree has very thin branches which
cannot be used as firewood. The branches of the alien tree are so weak that they
cannot be used for construction of houses/ huts.
Accessing
boreholes in Southern parts of Garissa is no longer a walk in the park. The
tree has grown along foot paths making it difficult to get to the boreholes. In
areas surrounding the water taps, the tree thrives like a bear feasting on ripe
berries.
The
main action that the residents of Garissa County have taken to fight the alien
tree is slashing. Schools are busy slashing the alien tree lest it takes over
their pupils’ playing grounds. Hospitals are spending a lot in hiring casual
workers to keep their compounds free of the frivolous alien tree.
We
project that more than 50% of all Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in Kenya
will be under the Mathenge tree in the next twenty years from today. This will
pose a lot of challenges such as food insecurity, poverty and scarcity of Pasteur
(thus more conflicts).