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Floods wash away giant, centuries-old Mjikenda baobab

Legend has it that anti-colonialism heroine Mekatilili Wa Menza used to rest under the tree while on her missions.

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by The Star

Coast02 May 2024 - 12:35
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In Summary


  • It was also a major tourist site where locals earned a livelihood as tourists visited to learn the history and also enjoy the beauty of nature.

  • River Sabaki broke its banks late last week following the heavy rains upstream that led to massive losses of property.

A Mijikenda Kaya elder, Edward Kazungu Hawerisa (in a red hat), at the area where the giant 800-year-old baobab tree was swept down the River Sabaki by floods.

Tourism stakeholders and residents of Sabaki in Kilifi county are ‘mourning’ an 800-year-old baobab that was felled by raging floods following heavy rains in the region.

The tree, which was a historical tourist attraction site within the Sabaki Bridge area, was also a sacred among the Mijkenda community.

Locals claim anti-colonialism heroine Mekatilili Wa Menza used to rest under the tree while on her missions.

It was also a major tourist site where locals earned a livelihood as tourists visited to learn the history and also enjoy the beauty of nature.

River Sabaki broke its banks late last week following the heavy rains upstream that led to massive losses of property, farms and livelihoods for the locals downstream.

Journalists visited the site and came face-to-face with the loss that not only wiped out the iconic tree but also destroyed retreat facilities set up for tourists visiting the area.

The local community group Mekatilili Menza Hippo (Sabaki Bridge) showed journalists the remains of the giant baobab tree and another that was at risk of being swept.

Tourists who have been visiting the area over the years could not hide their shock upon seeing the loss.

Moses Kaingu, one of the community members who manage the historical site, said they woke up to the disaster after floods swept away the giant tree.

He said the tree was a source of livelihood for all the community members in Sabaki as tourists visited to learn history.

“The baobab tree was uprooted by water and, interestingly, it went downstream in an upright position. But upon reaching the bridge, it was brought down by the electricity wires,” he said.

Kaingu said there was another smaller baobab that was about to fall, and the entire Sabaki group rescue team of over 30 people will be affected.

“Economically, this is a historical site that tourists would come to learn about Mekatilili, enjoy the view of River Sabaki and eat food in our restaurants,” he said.

Amani Chea, a resident of Sabaki Bridge, said they lost property as a section of the restaurants were swept away.

Chea said he developed an interest in making a restaurant at the site to enable tourists to come and relax while watching the river.

"We appeal to the government to intervene and help us bring back our site as this was what we depended on for livelihood,” he said.

Pamela Shaw, accompanied by her husband, Bever, said they came to the site to see where the great iconic tree stood.

"But, sadly, I found it had gone down. It’s very sad and for the community it’s a great loss. I used to visit here often and I have always brought all my friends to visit,” she said.

Shaw said she heard about the tragedy on Monday evening and could hardly sleep until up to 2am.

She is originally from Zimbabwe and South Africa but is now a resident of Malindi.

Her husband said they visit the site quite often because the baobab tree has spiritual significance to the residents.

“People used to worship at this tree and for the Giriama people it meant quite a lot. In fact, one of the ancient Giriamas predicted the white man coming to this area from this tree, so it has a very profound effect on the locals,” he said.

Journalists later walked along the shores of the river together with Kaya elder Edward Hawerisa and conservationist Dominic Kene of Camp Gedeng and found the tree stuck about 700 meters away.

The duo termed the fallen giant tree as a big historical and economic loss to the community.

“The Mijikenda community have suffered a big blow for losing this tree. This is a sacred place and we used to conduct prayers whenever there were calamities. Now as a result of floods, it’s no more,” Hawerisa said.

Kene, who is the chairman of the Hippo camps, said tourism stakeholders had suffered a great loss with the fall of the baobab.

“Many youths, about 50, were doing tourism activities here and now all of them have become jobless," he said, adding that they would protect the tree where it is until they get help to replant it.

He called on Wildlife and Tourism CS Alfred Mutua to intervene and allocate funds to replant the tree to help the community.

John Moran, a Canadian who lives along the shores of the River Sabaki, said the loss of the baobab was a big tragedy to the community in Sabaki.

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