Kenya researchers hailed for their efforts to manage spread of the destructive Mathenge tree

NAIROBI—Kenyan biologists at the forefront in the bid to rid 27 counties of the destructive “Prosopis Juliflora” (Mathenge tree) have been hailed for their efforts.

The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Aden Duale said he was “pleased to learn about [the] innovative strategies developed by our dedicated scientists.”

The CS made the remarks when he visited the Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI) on Monday.

“This invasive species (Mathenge) has caused significant damage across 27 counties, and I am encouraged by innovative strategies developed by our dedicated scientists and the progress being made to address this issue,” Duale noted.

Scientists at KEFRI came up with a biological control measures, using specific insects, to target and eliminate seeds of the Mathenge trees.

Launched last year, the ten-year national Prosopis Juliflora (Mathenge) Management Plan aims to restore the affected vegetations through several methods such as growing grass that are beneficial to livestock as in the case of Baringo County.

Duale stated that: “I will be presenting a cabinet memo to ensure the timely implementation of this biological strategy, as it is crucial for the protection and rehabilitation of our environment.”

The CS, who was accompanied by the Principal Secretary for Forests Gitonga Mugambi, was received at the KEFRI headquarters by the board chairman, Gen. (Rtd) Samson Mwathethe.

This initiative responds to the ongoing environmental and livelihood devastation caused by the fast-spreading species, which was introduced to the county in 1979 to combat desertification and provide fuel.

The aggressive colonization by Mathenge has led to the loss of farmlands and pastures, impoverishing agro-pastoral communities, altering river flows, and sparking resource-based conflicts that have resulted in the loss of lives and property.