Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made a U-turn over his reported proposal to return the shamba system, saying he was misquoted.
On Saturday last week, Gachagua said the government was considering allowing farmers to use forests to boost food production.
Speaking during the official opening of the Nairobi Trade Fair at the Jamhuri ground on Wednesday, the DP accused the media of misquoting him.
"While in Baringo last week, I spoke about the government's intention to start an afforestation programme. I urge the media to report objectively," Gachagua said.
"I meant the government will engage farmers to plant trees as they grow crops and then vacate once the trees have matured. We will work with farmers to do afforestation on gazetted reserves.”
During the fair, the DP bought a bull at Sh1.3 million at the livestock auction.
Gachagua had on Saturday while in Baringo said, “There was shamba system where residents could plant maize until the trees grow. We have made an order for wananchi to be allowed to cultivate in the forest for more food.”
Gachagua's comments elicited mixed reactions as conservationists were jittery following the depletion of forest resources when the system was allowed in early 1980s and 1990s.
A senior manager with the Kenya Forest Service, who requested anonymity, had said they will abide by what the government decides.
“We work for the government and will follow the orders.”
On Sunday, the Green Thinking Action party had said Gachagua’s position contradicts President William Ruto’s position when he addressed the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
“Many countries now bear witness to the unsettling phenomena of rivers, canals, and water reservoirs that are drying up on account of droughts and heat waves occasioned by climate change. Kenya is no exception,” Ruto had said.
“The northern, arid and semi-arid rangelands of our country have been gravely impacted by drought whose severity has not been experienced in 40 years. 3.1 million residents of these ASALs are now severely food-insecure on account of scarce rainfall over three consecutive seasons, leading to poor crop and pasture.”
The Green Party said the food insecurity being experienced in parts of Kenya is caused by climate change, as the President rightly pointed out during the assembly.
“It’s not because the shamba system was revoked,” the party said.
The Green Party said when Ruto was DP, he launched a multi-sectoral task force that reviewed forestry management across the country.
“The task force was very categorical about the importance of forest conservation and why it should not be compromised,” they said.
In February 2018, the government appointed a task force to look into forest resource management and logging.
The Marion Kamau-led task force handed over its report in April 2018, recommending reforms.
They said the KFS board and management were unable to stem, and in some instances had directly participated in, abated, systemised rampant corruption and abuse of office.
“Instead of opening up our forests for human settlements, we should in fact fence all our major forests. When this was done in Maasai Mau parts of Mau Forest, it led to the regeneration of the forest,” the Green Party said.
“The Kenya Water Towers Agency has already called for the fencing of Kenya’s Water Towers that comprise major forest blocks.”
The party said that during the launch of Kenya's Tree Growing Fund and campaign, the former presidency set an ambitious 30 per cent target for forest cover by 2050.
Kenya Forest Service manages 6.4 million acres of forests and helps counties manage another 4.2 million acres.
Much of the closed canopy forest has in the recent past been depleted due to internal and external influences.
The losses of forests and associated resources have had far-reaching negative effects on the country’s economy and the welfare of Kenyans.
Some of the consequences include an inadequate supply of water, environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity among others.
Recently, however, the government announced that the country’s forest and tree cover had improved. Results generated from the National Forest Resources Assessment 2021 indicate that Kenya has 7,180,000.66ha (17,742,168.02 acres) of tree cover, representing 12.13 per cent of the total area.
The findings indicate that the country has 5,226,191.79ha (12,914,201.16 acres) of national forest cover, which represents 8.83 per cent of the total area.
The Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS) have been working in some areas with strict supervision of KFS.
It is a system whereby KFS allows forest adjacent communities, through community forest associations, the right to cultivate crops during the early stages of forest plantation establishment.
Cultivation is often allowed to continue for three to four years until the tree canopy closes.
PELIS scheme which is practised mainly in areas under plantation is meant to improve the economic gains of participating farmers while ensuring the success of planted trees.
It has been used to establish forest plantations in Kenya since 2007 and was first rolled out in 24 forest stations in Mau, North Rift, Central and Eastern conservancies.
The task force had however raised issues with how the system was being managed.
Edited by A.N
