'Tree of life' shapes livelihoods in Ukambani

By Nanjinia Wamuswa

A group of women in Ukambani have embarked on a project to turn hundreds of acres of scrubland into a treasure trove - akin to the tea plantations in Kericho.

The 300 members of the Solace Women Group from Mtito Andei have isolated a plant relatively unknown locally, moringa, whose leaves, fruits and roots will hopefully pull them out of poverty and stem some diseases in the villages.

Solace chairperson Agnes Ndetei plucks moringa leaves on her Kibwezi farm.

The group vice-chair Scholastica Mutiso says the women plan to replace Kibwezi’s wasteland with green swathes of the plant in five years. "We want to be food secure and healthy, to empower ourselves and ensure better living standards for our families."

To them, the tree (Moringa oleifera, also called mlonge in Kiswahili) is a vanguard against poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and a frontline against diseases. It is a double win for them: ensuring food security as well as conserving environment.

"The new initiative will enhance our sense of purpose on improving family income while preserving the environment through growing and sales of the moringa products," she added.

The origin

The plant is native to India and Malaysia but it was brought to Kenya more than 100 years ago, by coolies who constructed the Kenya-Uganda railway. The Indians used its flowers for food and its leaves as medicine against tropical ailments, malaria included.

In parts of the world, moringa is taken as a natural immune booster, a beverage and a plant of high nutrition. In Nigeria, the national drug registration agency has approved it as an anti-malarial remedy.

Its leaves, fruits and roots contain essential amino acids and are rich in protein, Vitamin A, B and C, and key minerals, according to Internet sources.

Moringa is also a source of bio-fuels. Yet, unlike other bio-fuel trees such as jatropha, moringa is edible to humans and livestock. It survives in poor soils and can withstand drought.

Solace was formed in 2003 to rehabilitate the environment and promotes activities that generate income for rural women. It is headed by former assistant minister Agnes Mutindi Ndetei and has planted 300,000 moringa trees and sunk three wells in Ndandani Kikumbulyu location, at Utini Primary and in Ngai Ndethya, which have benefited 3,000 families.

The moringa project is still in formative stage. It involves developing tree nurseries, sinking shallow wells for women groups, creating awareness on the economic and health benefits of this tree species to those living with HIV/Aids and the community at large, and processing, packaging and marketing its products.

Solace expects to train 3,000 farmers on moringa farming, develop 20 tree nurseries, establish a processing and packaging plant, create six collecting and curing centres, and open up six modern marketing outlets, in the next couple of years. Already some farmers have moringa plantations of about 50 acres on their individual farms.

The project has drawn the interest of Government agencies and non-governmental organisations. African Medical Research Foundation (Amref) and the Agricultural Sector Coordination Unit (ASCU), a facility that coordinates the agricultural sector towards the implementation of the ten-year Agricultural Sector Development Strategy, have assisted the women to pursue their dream. ASCU’s assistance was channeled through the Innovation Fund for Agriculture and Agri-Business.

Found Voice

Amref works with Solace to improve the nutritious status of the members living with HIV/Aids.

Solace leaders say moringa can replace tea as the most preferred hot drink. The seeds are said to be good for libido. It is manufacturing food seasoning (packaged as Maisha brand), and now exports it to southern Sudan, says Vicky Mumbua, the group’s treasurer.

Solace has found a voice on local FM radio stations, Mang’elete and Mbaitu FM, to spread word about the benefits of this miracle tree.

The tree matures in three to five months, and one tree produces five kilos of raw leaf every two months. The market price is Sh15 per kilo.