A
65 acres of land under eucalyptus trees in Gituamba village in
Kinyona has been a thorn in the flesh with community demanding it
be reverted to them.
The
property presently under the management of Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA)
was initially an agriculture research centre before it was converted to
planting trees for facilitation tea production at lower rates.
The
residents in the area had petitioned Murang’a County assembly to look in
to the matter citing the late Cabinet Minister John Michuki educated public on
the need to remove the eucalyptus trees from the water sources.
They
said Mukungai river in Kangema constituency which had reduced water levels is
an example of the effects of exotic trees in the water sources.
The
contentious land is registered at the Murang’a Lands Registry under LR/Kinyona
/Loc/2/786.
Murang’a
MP Sabina Chege and a resident of Kinyona ward on the slopes of the Aberdare
Ranges is a bitter person over the extreme cold and increased crime associated
with the tree plantations.
Last
week, she took the management of the agency to task demanding reasons as to why
they have continued planting second lot of trees that the environmentalists
have identified as a threat to the ecosystem.
She
said the land before it was reverted to the agency used to a research farm
where fruit trees were in plenty. among other food crops.
“The
forest under eucalyptus trees should be done away with a replaced with
fruit trees that are more beneficial to the community,” said Chege.
Her
sentiment received a backlash in the social media platforms over claims she
advocated the forest to be cleared called following cold weather.
“
Am not afraid over the backlash but interests of my people in Kinyona
must be raised,” said the MP adding that Kinyona stream that existed in
Gituamba area dried following the effects of planting unfriendly trees.
She came face to face with the KTDA leadership as they
supervised the land after the first lot of trees was harvested by KTDA holding
Limited and sold to tea factories in Murang’a and Kiambu counties.
At Murang’a County
Assembly, recommended that the National Environmental
Management Authority (Nema) conducts an environmental impact assessment on the
massive growth of eucalyptus trees and the subsequent impact on the environment
in Kinyona.
Our
news lines are
Mobile Phone (SMS)0719-889-925
www.themountainjournal.co.ke
