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The problem... in Kerio Valley it is not only severe degradation (over-grazing, unsustainable land-use), but also land-slides... and PLUS-Kenya started partnering with Empowering Lives International (ELI) since March 2010. ELI has a strong community approach and is also very capable to draw in local leaders (chiefs, councillors, governors). PLUS-K provides technical backstopping. From PLUS-K we mobilised Caleb Omolo (Rongo), Jane Wegesa (Nairobi) and Elise Pinners (Green Cycle Consulting Ltd., Nairobi).The first step is to introduce Vetiver System to the communities and to set up nurseries.Then in 2012 there was enough for 'rolling out': several visits to show how to rehabilitate farm land: the focus was on gully rehab. Now in 2013 we are following up on gullies and also considering to mitigate landslides.
Tubbergen Rotary fund donated 8,000 KSh early 2013 which allowed PLUS-Kenya to send Jane for follow-up visit: assessing the gully works laid down in 2012, training more farmers on gully rehabilitation, and investigating the landslide issue: what needs to be done is not just technical backstopping (which PLUS-Kenya can mediate for but it may require an expert from elsewhere); it also needs larger scale awareness raising and further involvement of local leaders.
As for gullies: Farmer Joseph was the first to try this on his fenced land, he succeeded, and according to reports from Jane and ELI the community is now able to promote Vetiver System for this purpose.
Landslides: more money from Tubbergen Rotary is reserved to mobilise expertise needed for landslide mitigation (ideally to get an expert from Madagascar - if opportunity allows, with limited funds..).
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