Why we must not return to the shamba system

An aerial view where a section of Mau forest has been cleared for farming. [File, Standard]

This week all eyes were on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after he was "mis"-quoted as saying the new government would return the "Shamba system" that allows farming in forests.

He said trees would eventually grow and push the farmers out of the forests. For a moment it appeared DP Gachagua was the only stranger in Jerusalem, aware of existence of a farmer that could be pushed out of a forest by a grown tree.