By Nikko Tanui The lush Chebulu Forest in Sigowet division of Belgut constituency is probably the only indigenous forest still standing.
The small forest, which occupies about 21 acres, is home to hundreds of magnificent trees estimated to be more than 400 years old. Some of these trees shoot up to 100m above the ground.
Wild animals such as monkeys, baboons, snakes and various types of birds have made this forest their home.
Depend on water
And River Chebulu finds its source here. Its waters serve some 7,000 residents and their animals in more than nine villages downstream. Way ahead, residents of Nyando District also depend on the water mass.
Keep Reading
- Self care: The path to being a better parent
- How to deal with sibling rivalry
- How to introduce children to budget literacy
- Modern fatherhood: Rise of the present dad
In the recent past, the forest has faced a serious threat of being wiped out by greedy people who raid it for its beautiful timber. Charcoal burners have also beenbusy exploiting the forest.
Alarmed by this trend, residents of Chemiromben and Ainamoi villages, which neighbour the forest, decided to protect it.
The villagers, led by youth leaders under the Chebulu Conservancy Group, analysed the state of the forest, which they claim was set aside as a community property and water tower for Chebulu River when their land was demarcated in 1972 . The demarcation was done by elders led by then Chief Arap Keryo.
They recorded the proceedings at the meeting that discussed the fate of the forest. Mzee arap Berenge, who says he chaired the demarcation committee of 1972, says the community was bequeathed the forest land and it was the duty of the people to protect the asset.
Mzee Berenge says the forest was habited by wild animals such as leopards and poisonous snakes in the 1960s and 1970s.
The only activity their forefather carried out in the forest then, he says, was beekeeping and simple herbal medicine harvesting.
And the serenity and tranquility of the forest stood for decades until 2006 when a man who claimed to hold a title deed for seven acres in the forest (three other men have since claimed several acres) attempted to cut some trees from, but was swiftly arrested by the local chief and has a pending case in court for illegal logging.
Last month, the man, a former primary school teacher, is alleged to have cut down giant trees, but the villagers quickly assembled and flushed him out.
They impounded the timber. An emergency meeting held at the site passed a resolution to use the felled trees to build a footbridge and distribute the rest to local dispensaries for use in construction.
Destroy forest “What hurts is that the man comes from a different sub-location where they even have a spring but he chose to come all the way to destroy the forest we have been protecting for years. It’s something we will never allow,” says the group Chebulu conservancy group chairman, Simeon Bett.
“We are stakeholders of the forest and a few individuals will not be allowed to destroy it as we watch. We will ensure that it will always be preserved for this and future generations,” says Cheruyot Langat, a group member.
Jane Kirui, a resident says destroying the forest is punishing women “because only God knows where we will go to fetch clean water and the distance we will have to travel.”
The area residents have since passed several ‘by-laws’ to protect the forest. These include the banning of logging, burning of charcoal or farming activities.
Carrying power-saws, pangas or jembes to the forest is banned and whoever contravenes that will be fined. Every visitor to the forest must report to the office and be given a guided tour.
They have also petitioned the Government through the Lands ministry to revoke all titles held by individuals claiming to own a piece of the forest.
Led by Kaplelartet Ward councillor Andrew Soi, they reiterate that the forest belongs to the community and they will never surrender it.