Mike Mwaniki
25 January 2005
Nairobi — The Environment ministry has sounded an alert over the degradation of the vast Cherangani hills forests in the North Rift.
The 128,575-hectare forest reserve is one five major water catchment areas in the country. The others are Mt Kenya, Mt Elgon, Mau complex and the Aberdares.
Cherangani reserve covers parts of Marakwet, Trans Nzoia and West Pokot districts. It includes Kapolet, Cherangani, Chesoi and Kapsowar forests.
Speaking in his Maji House office in Nairobi yesterday, Environment minister Kalonzo Musyoka warned: "These forests are faced with environmental crisis that is unprecedented in the history of the past management."
He said local people had encroached on the forests and were clearing or burning trees for settlement, charcoal, cedar posts and illegal timber milling.
"Destruction of these forests will result in disasters like prolonged drought and drying of the rivers," the minister said.
The Cherangani forest ecosystem is the source of rivers Nzoia, Morum, Kapolet, Saiwa, Embobut, Siga and Weiwei.
Added the minister: "We expect that if the forests are protected and reserved and appropriate participatory management approaches adopted, there will be diversity in forest use and increased income for the good of the communities around the Cherangani hills."
He told communities to guard against forest fires now that the dry season has started.
To prioritise environment issues, the minister said, the Government would incorporate them in the school curriculum.
Meanwhile, Kenya signed the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on December 25, last year, Mr Musyoka said.
The treaty aims to protect people and the environment from 12 industrial chemicals and pesticides that are deemed to be highly toxic, including DDT.
- The Water Services Trust Fund has given Sh11.9 million for projects in Leporosi sub-location, Trans Mara District.
The fund's chief executive officer, Mr Simon Mwangi, and Lake Victoria South Water Services Board, have released Sh6 million instalment to the community.
They said the money would be spent on community projects to improve the supply of clean water.
- Additional reporting by Dennis Odunga
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