BAN ON CHARCOAL BURNING OPPOSED BY TURKANA RESIDENTS

Despite Turkana County government banning charcoal burning residents have opposed the move citing there is no other source of income for them. The residents of Nasiger that has over 100 households are charcoal burners have opposed the move saying that there is no other alternative means for them to earn a source of living. County executive member on energy, environment Rhoda Loyor has given the ban notice citing land degradation due to increased felling of trees leaving the soils naked. Rhoda said the most affected areas are Lokichar, Kakuma,Nasiger due to the Internally displaced persons where there is no forest cover. Loyor said that charcoal burning has contributed to the degradation of forest cover where burners are killing trees so that they can get one for burning. She said that after dried trees were completed, those doing the illegal business are pouring salt or cutting the roots for it to dry fast since there is no dead tree. Loyor said that the remaining shrubs if not protected and forest cover added, there is danger citing that many residents have shifted from their areas and converged in where there is shrubs. “As the county government we have banned charcoal burning due to the decreasing forest cover in the area, Turkana is continuing being a desert because more trees are being cut down by charcoal burners” said Rhoda. Rhoda said that despite challenging livelihoods, where the pastoralist’s community has stopped selling goats, they have gone to burning charcoal. The ban as she said was for the good of the residents and their animals in the near future. “There are no dead trees, the charcoal burners are pouring salt or even cutting the roots of trees so that it can dry since there are no dead trees remaining for burning charcoal” The CEC added. She said that they have several species that are under observation at KEFRI and also Kenya forest service adding that they have partnered in planting trees in all the schools in the county where 850 seedlings have been done in the 2013/2014. She also added that market places, public institutions had trees planted but dried up due to lack of water where the water company could not provide water for the seedlings adding that a water tank had supplied water but it took long more than four months to come back and supply water. As a way of showing dangers of charcoal burning she said that there is need for civic education in the county. Ends... 0723321326