Ministers failed in forest fire disaster

The casual manner the Government has handled the raging fires in Mt Kenya Forest speaks volumes on how low environmental matters are rated and have been relegated.Ministers for Environment and Special Programmes or the principals have not visited the area to assess the damage. Yet, Mt Kenya Forest is not only one of the key and pillar water towers but it’s the lifeline of millions of people.In developed countries that really value their environment, and where national leaders are passionate, enthusiastic, focused and sensitive to environmental matters, one could have seen a more robust and aggressive response to contain forest fires.This is in mobilising resources and machinery to stop this threat to the eco-system. We have a national disaster, which the Government should have taken more seriously. Although, the army, police, Administration Police, Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service personnel have been deployed, these officers don’t have the necessary tools, expertise and techniques to put out the fires. It’s a national embarrassment to note that almost 50 years of independence, we are not prepared and equipped with the latest and modern fire fighting techniques and tools. Yet, when forest fires strike and consume our key forest pillars, it definitely threatens our national security in many ways.It’s grossly unfortunate that the whole country is focusing on the intensive debate on the date of the next general election as the fires wreck havoc threatening lives.If the Government’s capacity is limited, it should seek assistance from our friendly countries and international agencies.This is a matter of national and even international importance that should be swiftly and firmly dealt with. The Government should have declared it a national disaster.Enock Onsando,MombasaThe ongoing forest fires in Mt Kenya and Aberdare forests are the clearest indicators of poor disaster preparedness by the Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service. This is not the first time we are experiencing this kind of devastation. Unfortunately, the two agencies are ill prepared to respond to such emergencies and always promise to purchase the required facilities to put out fires. The firefighters are doing a commendable job despite the fact that they are lacking the required machinery. It sounds archaic to hear KWS officers overwhelmed by the intensity of the fire, say they are hoping rains will help contain the fierce flames.The magnitude of this inferno cannot be downplayed taking into consideration the value of resources that have been depleted and cannot be easily reclaimed. The effects will be felt far and wide since it affects our water sources, tourist sites, size of forest cover and wild animals. If the value of the bamboo trees in Chogoria and Chuka is estimated to be worth Sh8 billion then the rest of the value of lost resources must be a mind-boggling figure. It is a herculian task trying to fight the inferno using rubber flippers, backpack fire extinguishers and resorting to traditional methods like clearing vegetation to create firebreaks.Failure to invest in proper equipment has put our wildlife, plantation and indigenous forests in jeopardy. Humphrey Kagwi,Ongata RongaiArticle on Kalonzo failed test of fairnessIn his column in The Standard on March 3, Kipkoech Tanui let the imagination run a little too wild, particularly his views about Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka.Tanui took a barely noticeable molehill (Kalonzo’s quip in jest that he should speak for an extra minute during the late Environment Minister John Michuki’s requiem Mass because his boss, President Kibaki, had stepped out) and turned it into a mountain of 1976 Change the Constitution Campaign proportions.To everyone, Kalonzo’s joke was a comic relief in a funereal setting (and there were many such instances during Michuki and Njenga Karume’s send-off ceremonies) but Tanui chose to see hardball politics at play.Only one person with a satirical take could have chosen to see Kalonzo’s joke as loaded with succession undertones. One would have understood had the observation come in the form of a cartoon or in one of the weekend satirical segments of TV, but not from a newspaper columnist!What motivated him to yank what was clearly an innocent line from the literal to the realm of political symbolism? Seeing ghosts where there are none amounts to the alarmist journalism not suitable in an election year.Why bring up the differences in the G7 Alliance and Kalonzo’s place in it, considering that nearly everybody in the "high table" during the function has had differences with almost everyone else in the course of their political careers.As he pointed out, the late Michuki and President Kibaki were in separate parties between 1992 and 1997. President Kibaki and former President Daniel arap Moi have been sporadic political enemies and allies for as long as we can remember. Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta have been allies and rivals and so is Kalonzo and other politicians.political enemiesPoliticians say the most outrageous things about each other when they are not in the same political camp. A classical case is the falling out between Kibaki and Karume when the later supported Uhuru’s presidential bid in 2002. Although the two exchanged bitter words, they remained friends.What makes Tanui think that whatever Uhuru has said before about Kalonzo marks the end of the personal and political relationship between the two? As a seasoned observer of Kenyan political trends, Tanui should have known better and we should leave it for history to judge.Suffice it to say that most of our leaders lend a hand in mending the badly tattered country. Some like Kalonzo saw the tear early enough and took quick steps to remedy the situation. Others, understandably blinded by the rage prevailing at the time, had to take time to cool off before they did their bit in saving the country. It is wrong for anyone to overlook the role that each of these leaders played.If the VP were to unreasonably react to every critic of his in the manner that the columnist seems to suggest, very many people would have very bad weekends. Kalonzo is an affable, battle-hardened politician who takes criticism in his stride but also takes time and trouble to argue his side of the story.Zipporah Mwende, Journalism student, University of Nairobi.Clear city drainage now to avert floodsElection politics aside, the rains are about to set in. Are there measures to mitigate flooding and destruction of infrastructure due to rains? During the dry season, soil, polythene bags and rubbish have accumulated in the streets. Because of poor disposal of garbage, the drainagesystem is clogged. Is the City Council of Nairobi waiting to see loss of life and property and get into the usual crisis mode and blame game? Mayor George Aladwa and Clerk Philip Kisia should order drainage systems cleaned up now.Onyiego Felix, NairobiCaution needed in relocating refugeesForeign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula has a valid reason to relocate Somali refugees from Dadaab refugee camp to areas in Somalia liberated by Amison forces. However, the task is complex and there are things to consider. Some refugees have stayed in Kenya for over 20 years and even bore children who are now Kenyan citizens by birth. Because Kenya-Somalia border is porous, they will still find their way back to Kenya. Some refugees have Kenya national identity cards and repatriating them would be illegal. The Government should consider such factors before moving people.Allan Juma, NairobiExpel beach boys from tour hot spotsChild sex tourism is now at alarming levels. The tourism industry is doing well but child sex tourism is denting its image. The Kenyan Coast is apparently leading in this loathsome business. What is the Tourist Police Unit doing to stop the illegal business promoted by beach boys?Poverty is not even to blame because children from well-off families are also lured into child prostitution. The Minister for Tourism should intervene and expel beach boys.Omusolo Moses, Masinde Muliro University.Disband CMAThe Standard reported the predicament of minority CMC shareholders and the role of Capital Markets Authority in it. CMA let minority shareholders down. The CMC issue should have been sorted out as per the Company Law and the indefinite suspension of shares from NSE was wrong. Disband CMA now. Nitesh R Shah, Thika

Ministers failed in forest fire disaster

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