MALILI CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS MEETING HELD ON 14^TH OCT. 2009 REPORT.

Arid Lands Information Network Mutomo Knowledge center held a CCA meeting in Malili town 20 KM from Mutomo town. The meeting had 73 participants and two facilitators namely Andrew Nyamu (Community Information Volunteer Mutomo CKC) and Noah Lusaka Project Coordinator. The meeting mainly emphasized on the effects of changing Climatic conditions and ways in which communities can employ to reduce the impacts.

The meeting started at 9:30 AM, at Malili Africa Inland church. Participant arrived in group and found themselves place of the comport inside the church building where they sat and attentively listened

First they were led by a word of prayer, then members introduced themselves and the reason why they thought the meeting was important.

Mr. Noah Lusaka from Arid Lands Information Networks Nairobi introduced the topic of the Meeting. He explained to the participants what the climate change made in lame mans language: it is the drying of rivers, water getting saline, crop fails, low yields, extreme high  temperatures and drying of trees. Either he explained to the participants the underlying causes of the change in Climate conditions. The participants participated in brainstorming the causes and effects of the climate change.

After Noah’s presentations the participants broke in to group discussions and each group had a topic in which they were to discuss and come up with findings which they were to present later to the participants.

There was a debate on whether decline in moral standards is a result of climate change or a resultant from the westernization. As some participant held firmly the idea that the increased drought and famine has pushed some residents to turning to anti-social acts such as thievery, prostitutions and use of satanic and magic to raise income some were the idea that it was from greed, and westernation of our culture. Each group held its opinion and  no consensus was arrived at.

SOME OF THE KEY FACTORS WHICH THE PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFIED TO CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE ARE

Factors contributing to climate change

Deforestation and adverse cutting down of trees

When trees have been cut down, the carbon which found at the atmosphere keeps on increasing because the tree acts as carbon sinks for the carbon dioxide which is emitted to the atmosphere through different ways both man made and natural processes.

Charcoal burning

During charcoal burning a lot of smoke is emitted to the atmosphere and also the charcoal to be burnt some trees will have been cut down. These two factors again contribute to climate change

Smoke arising from industries and out mobiles which mainly is carbon dioxide

Many industries emit a lot of smoke to the atmosphere, this smoke contains carbon atom which bond with oxygen atom found in the Atmosphere to form carbon dioxide gas and other green house gases. These gases while in the Atmosphere contribute to Climate change through increased temperatures

 After discussing the above sub-titles the participants were subdivided into three main groups and each group given a topic to discuss.

1^st GROUP

It was to find the changes which have occurred in the past. And their finding was as follows.

• There used to be high supply of honey and now it is no more: This is because there  used be many flowers which the bees could get nectar required to make honey, also there used to be bushes and forested areas  where the beehives could be hanged but now those bushes are no longer their. Either it came that their used to be very big trees from which the beehives could be made from but now they are no more hence making honey very rare to be found. Lack of rainfall has led to adverse decrease in honey supply
• Some traditional food stuffs such as pumpkins, millets, sorghum, and cassava are no longer available in their farms. The reason why those crops no longer exist is because due to introduction of western culture those crops were termed to be primitive and many farmers embraced the exotic crops. These crops now due to change in climate have failed and hence there is hunger and starvation. They strong supported any initiative which can ensure that those crops are made available to farmers.
• Livestock has reduced very much. Initially there used to be big chunks of land because the population was quite low but with this increase in population all the land has been utilized for farming hence no remnant whereby the large herds of cattle can be graced. Either many livestock diseases have emerged leading to deaths of livestock or more livestock has died due to lack of pasture and water.
• Water has turned saline, the dynamics behind this change where by water has turned saline had no explanation but the group members were for the opinion that this was due to high levels of pollution and high levels of sand harvesting leaving behind the bare rocks which are saline in nature.
• Tree population has reduced subject to charcoal burning, settlement, urbanization and Agricultural activities. As population increases and poverty index declines people are being left with lesser option for survival and this make the overexploit the available resources and the most hit has been the vegetation cover because it offers quick source of income through charcoal burning, selling of the firewood, selling of timber or even development of farms and settlements
• Grass species have reduced because some have become extinct: this has happen mostly in farms whereby the grass has be removed to create land for other uses, some of the grass species identified to have reduced included Napier grass, (Kitontya), (Watima, mbesi). Other grass species have disappeared because of increased drought whereby they could not adapt. Either overgrazing has led to reduction of grass species
• New diseases have emerged which are resistant to treatment: Due to climate change some diseases have emerged which has no cure, they include HIV/AIDS. Due to increasing poverty people are pushed into engaging in risky behavior such as engaging in commercial sex to earn their daily living. This make them live in dangers of conducting HIV.AIDS and other STDs. Also skin cancer has too emerged and eye cataracts due to this change of Climate.
• Increase in livestock diseases: livestock diseases have to emerge which have defied both traditional herbs and modern medicine. Either the livestock have became very weak and even the oxen at times are too weak to plough.
• Wild animals have reduced in the neighborhoods, many years back the boundaries of Tsavo national park were not demarked hence wild animals could wander from the park to as far as Mutomo, Mutha, Ikanga, and Ikutha but now all the places have been deforested and the animal either have been killed through poaching or he have fled to safer places in the Tsavo National park.
• Herbal tree species have reduced; as deforestation continues to increase the herbal trees have not been spared either, make of them which were very helpful for sickness such as snakebites, malaria, chest problems this tree included, Muluvaine, Muuku
• Sand harvesting has led to reduction in water level in rivers; due to high poverty levels people are turning to any available alternatives to earn their daily living, one of the activity which has offered refuge is sand harvesting, this is because for long period the rivers are dry and the sand lays bare.
• Earth dams and sub service dams have run dry, this are among the very common alternatives which farmer have embraced but despite the sustainability they have began to run dry. Earth dams have been dug so deep posing risks to the users who have no option other than to continue risking their lives day in day out.
• Water has become highly polluted; one reason for this is the continual use and re-use of water resource due to water scarcity. Water can be used for washing utensils, then washing cloths, then the same water be used for mobbing house or be kept to be used later. This re-use make the water very polluted another reason for this is because both livestock and people share the same water points the water at some times become very polluted especially after the livestock have been watered.

 

GROUP 2

Was focusing on the adaptation to Climate change

a)       People to start using the indigenous foods such as millet, sorghum, Cassava and others which can resist drought especially during the dry season in mutomo district. This will be in a position to grow because of low water requirement as opposed to exotic crops whose water requirement is relatively high.

b)       Use of herbal medicines to decrease the cases of malnutrition in the district especially in the young children, this herbal medicines are not only cheap and easily found but they are also free from toxic chemical which at times tend to have side effects. Some herbs are very convenient because they are also used as food.

c)       Good care, maintenance and farm preparation for farmers to get good harvests, many farms have failed to provide for because of poor preparation which occurs especially immediately the rains start. Good preparation such as making terraces, application of compost and farm yard manure prior to rain season can earn the farmer good harvest

d)       Stop cutting down of trees and start afforestation programmes, cutting of trees and especially in Mutomo District has been very intense, people blame the failure of rain and extreme poverty. Nevertheless this trait has to be ended if the resident Endeavour to combat climate change both at local and global scope. Tree planting programmes needs to be initiated to help change the scenario of desert in the areas.

e)       Impose a ban of commercial and domestic charcoal burning to avoid soil erosion, charcoal burning can only be stopped successfully if a ban is imposed on both commercial and domestic charcoal burning. Proving alternative source of firewood can be of great significance towards reducing charcoal burning.

f)        Plant indigenous grass for our livestock to feed on especially during the prolonged period of time. This indigenous grass can be gotten from extension officer of ministry of Agriculture and livestock and those farmers who may still be having the grass species with them.

g)       Plant grass on top of terraces to reduce soil erosion. A good number of farmer have planted this grass on top of their terraces, this grass helps to reduce soil erosion on farms as much of the water passes over grass without eroding the top soil.

h)       Practice family planning to reduce the population growth rates, like many regions in the country, Mutomo is experiencing rapid population, family planning is very essential to ensure that the population remains at check. Awareness creation is very important because many people are still misinformed as on how to effect family planning

i)         Have toilets in every homestead to prevent water borne diseases like cholera, water borne  diseases have been a burning issue and with the recent out break of Cholera it is very important that every household has toilet. According to the ministry of health only 49% of households have toilet and this make the prevalence of water borne disease very common.

j)         Have small kitchen which can make use of waste water from domestic usage. Most of the domestic water after the final usage goes to waste. These kitchen gardens can make use of this waste water. The kitchen garden can be in the size of 1/8 an acre located near the kitchen and wash rooms.

GROUP 3

THIS GROUP WAS FOCUSING ON HOW TO REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS

Plant cover crops and drought resistant crops such as millet, sorghum, cowpeas, rootubers such as cassava, arrow roots, sweet potatoes

Say no to the following

1.       Charcoal burning and Cutting down of trees:   this will help conserve the available vegetation cover which will in return reduce global worming as the trees will act as carbon sinks for green house gases.

2.       Stop Sand harvesting on river banks and bases of the rivers; this will ensure that there is reduced soil erosion and reduce the salinity in the rivers.

Usage of improved jikos; this Jikos help conserve power because they trap most of heat within, this lead to less pollution and easy cooking.

Plant grass stripes along the contours to reduce erosion

Keep drought and disease resistant animals like indigenous breeds of goat, cattle sheep and poultry.

Avoid open methods of grazing livestock; this open grazing encourages wasteful grazing and make the land prone to degradation and erosion.

All water reserves to be protected inquests through diplomatic ways to those industrised nation to reduce their emissions and also compensate to those countries which are the hardest hit by the climate change.

 

After the presentation the participants were issued with copies of Newsletter, Kilimo Endelevu and posters on climate change then snacks as they left.

They participant were happy for gesture noting that it was an eye opener although they lamented that the time was not sufficient for the learning process

 

 

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS OF MALILI CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS WORKSHOP

NAME	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Flora Nzambuli	Kwa Makweti FFS	Kawelu
Anne James	Mwamke CBO	Mwala
Esther Musau	Maendeleo ya wanawake	Uae
Anastacia peter	Community Health Worker	Kawelu
Poul Kisilu	Assistant chief	Kandae
Magret Munyao	Kamola FFS	Vote
Grace Kitungu	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Losalia Matuku	Kathumula FFS	Kandae
Koki Nyamu	Kathumula FFS	Kandae
Titus Mbia	Farmer
Morris Malika	Kamola FFS	Vote
Peter Muthoka	Makumi CBO	Vote
Phillip Masila	Kathumula FFS	Kandae
Joshua Kilonzo	Pst Mateveve	Kandae
Monica Muli	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Rose Musya	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Joshua Musyimi	Kyeni CBO	Kawelu
Grace Kimanzi	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Lisi Milo	Farmer	Kandae
Paline Kyule	Kamola FFS	Vote
Lina Syengo	Kamola FFS	Vote
Thomas Kiema	Ass. Chief	Vote
Alice Mwanzila	Kamola FFS	Kandae
Katuku Wambua	Kamola FFS	Kandae
Kitheka Mwalika	Kamola FFS	Vote
Mbelete Mwanzi	Kamola FFS	Kandae
Nzengula Kissuni	Kamola FFS	Kandae
Ndakithi Mwanduka	Kamola FFS	Kanndae
Agnes Ndina	Kamola FFS	Kawelu
Richard Tunzi	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Muema Musai	Kathumula FFS	Kawelu
Sakayo Makato	Kathumula FFS	Mwala
Kitungu Nyungu	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Beth Nsaazu	KathumulaFFS	Vote
Mutave Ngio	Kamola FFS	Kandae
Juliana Titus	Mateveve SHG	Kandae
Gabriel Kimundu	Tiva CBO
Titus Josiah	Kivo
Charistone Nzuki	Mateveve SHG	Kandae
Mwende James	Mawende FFS	Kawelu
Micheal Mbai	Mawende FFS	Kawelu
Caro Muithi	Pendo la Mama	Kandae
Rhoda Kavimi	Kathui
Kanini Mwanzia	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Monicah Kiema	Tiva	Kandae
Ngewa Mutua	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Nyamai Kasukali	Kwa Makweti FFS	Kawelu
Nthambi Munguti	Kavyuvaa FFS	Kawelu
Kasenga Nziki	Kamola FFS	Vote
Mbeke Mutuku	Farmer	Kawelu
Kamene Mutua	Farmer	Kandae
Nzisa Maleve	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Josspina Kyusya	Ngomano SHG	Kandae
Ruth Samuel	Ngomano  SHG	Kandae
Rose Maatheka	Ngomano SHG	Kaaandae
Mwikali Mutunga	Yumuu FFS
Rhoda Musyoka	Malili (Farmer)	Kawelu
Mary Mutambu	Mateveve SHG	Kandae
Musenyga Matuku	Kathumula FFS	Vote
Wanzuu Mutie	Tiva SHG	Vote
Penina Ngulu	Kamola FFS	Kandae
Mutie Musau	Ngomano SHG	Kandae
Matia Kisamu	Malili	Kawelu
Kisilu Musya	Kamola FFS	Vote
Nguli Mbua	Malili	Kawelu
Benard Ngurue	Malili	Vote
Josphine Musembi	Mateveve SHG	Kandae
Jennifer Kilonzo	Mateveve SHG	Kandae
Mwikali Mwendwa	Ngomano SHG	Kandae
Dorothy Japheth	Mateveve SHG	Kandae
Kavuo Komu	Mateveve SHG	Kandae
Noah Lusaka	ALIN	Nairobi
Andrew Muendo	ALIN	Mutomo

 

 

Report by

Andrew Nyamu

CIV-Mutomo