Nyandarua County Government has called on all stakeholders to join hands in ensuring they protect and conserve the Aberdare Forest, at a time when over 40,000 hectares of the forest have been destroyed by fire this year.
On its part, the county government through the department of Trade, Tourism, Industrialization and Co-operative development has offered foodstuffs to more than 250 fire fighters who have been struggling to contain the inferno.
Deputy Governor Mr. Mathara Mwangi, who had hosted officers from Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) at the county government headquarters in Ol Kalou, said that all the stakeholders must now join hands to ensure that the endangered forest which forms water catchment area is protected.
Speaking at the event, the DG expressed his disappointment and rebuked the
downstream devolved units for not joining hands with the County Government to conserve the Aberdares National Park and Forest Reserve.
The meeting with the TARDA delegation was mainly based on how collaborations around catchment conservation, afforestation, community involvement, and climate change and food security are going to be achieved in their agenda.
As part of its drought mitigation efforts, TARDA established the Kibathai Karuru water pan in Kinangop Sub-County which stores run-off water during the rainy season, thereby providing water to over 1,000 community members with water for domestic use throughout the year.
TARDA also constructed the Warui water pan through the Kazi Kwa vijana initiative, which is currently serving an estimated 5,000 community members through provision of water for agriculture, livestock and domestic use.
The beauty of the Aberdares forest is fading up with its rare flora and fauna. Moreover, Lake Ol Bolossat, the only fresh water lake in central region has been drying up
Over 70 percent of the heavily gullied park, which is marked by forested tops in some sections, is now accessible through Mau-Mau Road, Matubio in North Kinangop and Shamata in Nyandarua County.
Apart from the breathtakingly scenic Table Mountains, it offers spectacular waterfalls, the Twin Rocks and Dragon Teeth, which are a paradise for enthusiasts of sight-seeing, camping, hiking and bird-watching.
By Wevine Mollo
