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KAKUMA, Kenya – In the arid landscapes of Turkana County, a group of young people are turning an environmental problem into an economic opportunity. They are crafting furniture from the wood of the Prosopis Juliflora tree, an invasive species locally known as mathenge.
While mathenge was introduced to combat desertification in the 1970s, its rapid spread has led to the displacement of native plants, depletion of water sources, and injuries to humans and livestock due to its thorns. Now, students at Kakuma Arid Zone Secondary School are repurposing the tree into sustainable furniture, offering a practical solution to mitigate its negative impacts.
Char Tito, a 16-year-old refugee from South Sudan, is one of the students involved in the project. “Plastic chairs are expensive,” says Tito, who arrived at Kakuma Refugee Camp in 2017. “This is why I started making chairs from mathenge earlier this month. Mathenge is abundant. We have been using it for firewood for years. I did not know that it could be used to make chairs.”
the initiative provides valuable skills to the students, who can then use their knowledge to generate income.
Turning a Problem into a Resource
The barren land around Kakuma offers limited opportunities for agriculture, making communities reliant on livestock and the sale of firewood and charcoal. the mathenge project offers an option, sustainable livelihood.
Dennis Mutiso, a deputy director at Girl Child Network (GCN), emphasizes the project’s alignment with national climate plans and the school curriculum. He notes that trained youths are partnering with untrained individuals to disseminate knowledge within the community.
Tito, who supports her mother and three siblings, initially made chairs for her household but plans to sell them to neighbors. “this is a skill that I can use for my entire life. I am looking forward to earning a living out of carpentry,” she says.
The Invasive Nature of Mathenge
Government statistics indicate that mathenge trees spread at a rate of 15 percent annually, colonizing a million acres of land in Kenya.While some residents use the tree for fencing and livestock shelters, its negative impacts are widely recognized.
Lewis Obam, a conservator at the Forestry Commission under Turkana County, acknowledges the negative perception of mathenge within the community. “Communities lost their goats after consuming the tree. Its thorns where affecting the community,” he says. Despite its rapid regeneration, even after being cut down for firewood and charcoal, efforts are now focused on maximizing its potential uses. “It has more opportunities than we knew. It has the second hardest wood in this area. We need maximum use of the mathenge.”
Environmental Protection Efforts
Along with repurposing mathenge, students are actively involved in planting native trees to restore the local ecosystem. Despite the challenges of high temperatures and water scarcity, they are committed to mitigating climate change.
magdalene Ngimoe, another student at Kakuma Arid Zone Secondary School, has planted trees at her home and school. “I hate mathenge. It makes our lives difficult. But I am happy that I am using it to make chairs. I am also planting trees at school, which will provide shade to other students,” says the 16-year-old Kenyan.
Kenya aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 through its National Tree Growing Restoration campaign,launched in December 2022.
EXPLAINER: Invasive Species Management
Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. Managing invasive species involves prevention, early detection, control, and restoration efforts. These strategies aim to minimize their spread and impact on native ecosystems.
Edwin Chabari, a manager at Kakuma Refugee Camp under the Department of Refugee Services, recognizes the potential of the project. “The local youths can get cash from a tree that we thought was a menace,” he says.
GCN,with funding from Education Above all,has planted 896,000 trees in Kakuma and Dadaab,with a target of 2.4 million trees by next year.
Joseph Ochura, sub-county director in Turkana County under the teachers Service Commission (TSC), highlights the positive impact of the tree-planting initiative on the learning environment. “When you visit most of the schools that have been supported, you will see big shades of trees. Whenever there is a break time, learners sit there, including the teachers. Sometimes, some lessons are even carried out under that shade,” Ochura says.
Tito,who aspires to be a doctor,is proud to contribute to the green jobs being created in Kakuma.”As a girl, I am proud of myself. I am contributing to environmental protection,” she says.
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