The County Government of Garissa is conducting weekly sensitization forums to encourage the residents to use flour from the Prosopis Juliflora tree locally known as Mathenge tree. The ASAL County has experienced severe drought in the last decade with the 2020-2023 drought being extreme, leading to increased cases of malnutrition, livestock and human death. In partnership with the Marifa Cornner and the Maisha Mathenge Group who make 60kgs of Mathenge tree flour daily, the County is investing in activities aimed at changing the mindsets of the residents who previously believed the tree to be poisonous. Currently, the initiative has fed over 1500 people in the County. The Maisha Mathege Group is baking cakes, preparing chapatis and mandazi for the locals to convince them that the flour is safe for human consumption.
With endorsement from government officials who purchase the flour and even eat the prepared snacks during County functions, in the exhibition booths, the residents are receptive to consuming the Mathenge flour. Mathenge tree was introduced in the country in the 80s as a soil erosion mitigation method. Though young children and pastoralists would chew on the plant’s seeds as a snack, it was not verified whether eating the tree produce was harmful to the body. Necessity is the mother of invention. With death of 42% of livestock due to drought, the ASAL County invested alternative method of cattle feed. This method included crushing of the Mathenge tree seeds and mixing them with grided bones to manufacture healthy animal feed. The County procured machines and with labour from the Maisha Mathenge group the animal feed factory was set up. The profits generated from the animal feed factory were invested in producing the flour for human consumption. This flour has been approved for consumption by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
