Rabai residents seek Govt intervention over destruction of endangered forests

Lennox Mwabaya, the Chairman of the Rabai Cultural Center, addressing the press.

Residents of Rabai in Kilifi county have raised concern over wanton destruction of Kaya forests in the area and are calling on the government to help them preserve the remaining forests.

Among the Kaya forests under threat in the area include Kaya Fimboni, Kaya Kambe, Kaya Mudzi Mwiru, Kaya Mudzi Muvya and Kaya Viungoni – which are world heritage sites recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“There has been destruction of forests, especially at Kaya Mudzi Mwiru, Kaya Mudzi Muvya and Kaya Viungoni and we are calling upon the county government to provide us with forest guards to save the two Kayas. There have been arrests but the cases rarely proceed,” said Lennox Mwabaya, the Chairman of the Rabai Cultural Center.

“When talking about the Rabai, the Kayas must be mentioned. We have a council of elders and a customary court inside the Kayas that are used to resolve community disputes,” he added.

Mwabaya said that the trees will be planted at Kaya Fimboni and Kaya Kambe but the exercise will also spread to the other Kayas.

Mzee Mkoba Mwashe, a Kaya elder from the area said that the event will give the community an opportunity to showcase their culture and traditions.

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The Rabai, who will be celebrating their new year on October 26, 2024, will plant trees to commemorate the day and also as a way of restoring the forests.

“On the evening of 25th October, there is a practice we call urunzi where women will go round their villages with ashes on their hands and they will sprinkle it everywhere, a sign to welcome our new year,” he said.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Sports and Culture, Dr. Ruth Dama, said that the event will be hosted by the Rabai Kaya elders and that the county government will ensure politicians do not take advantage of the function.

By Nehemiah Okwembah

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