I had an opportunity of travelling from Nairobi to Mombasa by road recently after a long time.Things have really changed.The only good thing is the road. But from Sultan Hamud down to Voi,the green bushes that used to be there this time of the year have disappeared.In Emali town,there used to be green bushes of cowpeas this time.Now its bare cultivated land.It's transforming to bear desolate land.Woe unto the communities that live in that region.I could not figure out how people survive there. I wonder how things will be in 20 years from now

I squary agree with you.Kenya is quickly drifting to one big desert thanks to our obsession with charcoal burning and poor farming methods.Whats worrying is the level at which our forest cover is depleting.Pple who have settled in forest land and cutting down trees resist eviction,their 'leaders' site tribal victimization whenever this happens,Eborbut,Mau et al.Its so sad.We fail to protect our environment and when the rains go for good,we cry for food aid.Its the height of idiocy.


pink

@ mainat lets not try to conveniently look at one part of the country,i have had a chance to travel frequently through various parts of central kenya and for sure its not any better...i recently travelled from Maralal to Nyahururu and everywhere its failed crops and no signs of rain anywhere..from Nyahururu through olkalao to gilgil Naivasha everywhere no rain,pastoral lands are also not good. Nyahururu through Mweiga,Nanyuki,Nyeri Karatina through to thika not any good so Basically its the whole country and its time kenyans woke up and reflected on the damage we have done to our environment and what we are reaping and get down to reafforastation as if life depends on it coz it surely does. From a forest cover of 4% 15 yrs ago to less than 1% and we still expect the same rainfall patterns? it vanity.

I say,and will always say...that WE as Kenyans must take responsibility for our environment always. How many trees as a person have you planted? Do you always advocate for people to plant trees or do you wake up and literally do it whenever an opportunity arises? The other day,the SK charity club had a tree planting session...and at least we made a difference,no matter how small..in our environment. We all dont own land,or know of a place we can go make a difference by planting one,but there are other ways we can salvage our environmkent. If you are one of those people who insists on printing documents even when its not really necessary...Please refrain as from today.Print only when necessary! The next time you're almost clicking the 'print' button on your document,think twice about the environment,and mostly about the Kenyans who have not seen rain for the last two or more years. If you contribute in any form of carbon emmission via driving,or polluting the environment in any other way,its time you stepped up and participated in the numerous ways that are coming up to off set our carbon footprints and putting the carbon exactly where it belongs thus making the world a better place for all. By the way,how many of us advocate for water harvesting even in our Shags/homes? So much water that could otherwise be used for various purposes in our homes end up going to waste coz people still havent embraced water harvesting. Just because we live in the big cities,where water somehow finds its way to our taps almost daily..doesnt mean that we can sit back and totally ignore the impact of our irresponsible deeds on the now delicate environment. Lets be part of the positive change...We can still save Kenya from becoming a desert!

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't..

The other observation was that a ranch between Machakos Junction and Salama town in now settled.At some areas the cattle is literary feeding on soil .No grass.

The paradox is that river Athi is not far very this region.Why does the River athi water have to drain into the indian Ocean when the residents upstream are dying of hunger?

why don't we have dams in the idle large tracts of land in the region and have a policy of planting trees near the dams.

I doubt if a dam can cost more than 150,000/= excluding land.

Kamwana-pole if I suggested its only in Ukambani this is happening. You are right about Central although its mainly Laikipia (RV) and parts of Kieni that are in serious danger of desertification.

www.mjengakenya.blogspot.com

@Niando writes '...from Sultan Hamud down to Voi,the green bushes that used to be there this time of the year have disappeared.In Emali town,there used to be green bushes of cowpeas this time.Now its bare cultivated land.It's transforming to bear desolate land....'






After reading much about Mau forest,I took a ride around the Aberdares,Mt. Kenya and Ngong Hills in March 2009 as I normally do for holidays. Ngong is totally transformed into Nairobi suburbs,the Aberdares as you leave Lari,Kamburu,Gatamaiyu,.... gatakaini,... kigigoini,nyeri,muiga,Belle Vue,indarakwa,joro,kalau,ndiara,miharati,githioro ...,Enginia ... is all settled to the peak,mt. Kenya is slightly better,but,nonetheless very much threatened... my thoughts were,we simply cannot just make policy for Mau but for ALL national forests,Mountains,rivers,lakes ... in sum a comprehensive national resources policy and its urgent!

River Athi dried for the first time ever in march...things are getting serious,the bible talks of the river Nile drying up....soon there will be no permanent rivers in africa.

Ndakaini dam...close to my shagz n even after the just ended long rains,the thing is almost empty!! Nairobians,shun the ignorance,arrogance,sin,chestthumping... coz things will b elephant soon! River chania...If any one of u has been to thika of late,u wont miss this glaring eyesore on the once magnificent chania falls...not a drop of water!!! The once mighty river is now a mere trickle,and the trickle is harvested by thika municipality. We should turn back to our Creator!!

The only reason why some people are still alive is coz its illegal to shoot them!!

Agriculture supports/employs something like 60% of Kenyans. And we are not concerned? Power and water rationing could be our future. I am already spotting a career/business opportunity. Tree holticulture.


www.mjengakenya.blogspot.com