Robinson Island

Part 1-Planting Mangroves

‘For me?Thanks man.’Says Guddy as I hand her a bottle of Fanta.
It’s my pleasure, I say and sit astride my chair.
‘So we came back walking straight towards the cabin with the light on. The man beside me was trembling and saying-mama these men are too many,and they’ve got knives and pangas,,,but I pushed on,and he kept following was like a mad woman. I kept. On .There was no moon but it was not so dark,we could see the silhouettes standing around the cottage,and watching us. Two men started to walk towards us.,,and us, we headed on.
I asked-Where’s my husband-I guess then the realized we must have got some back up,because they fled.The askari’s lunged forward at that instance. They caught two of them.The leaders,infact.
They had tied up Kai very tightly and the rope had bruised him all over.I guess they had intended to throw him into the creek,along with me.So they had been waiting.’
Guddy continued her narration.
Just one of her numerous experiences she has had from her struggle,living ther life she chose. Guddy and her husband Kai are two Kenyans living in Malindi,and taking care of an Island called Robinson Island.They take the lead in rehabilitation of the destructed coastal strip that serves as ground for the salt works companies.
When I say,take care of an Island.I don’t mean a little trim and tuck here and there every third Saturday of the month.It is a big task,,,preserving the natural balance along the coastline, and in the Island itself.
Ever heard of the mangrove tree?
It is a short,leafy hard wood tree with roots that like to start up up then down as if curtsying. It is a very versatile tree.
It can with stand the highly salinated sand along the coastline. It actually filters the salty ocean water to give pure drinking water,through it’s roots.It also medicinal,its leaves used for some forms of rheumatism and stomach aches.It is also a good source of building material and firewood.
This mangrove tree also ensure that the slim division between ocean waters and the natural water table does not break.
The mangrove serves as a breeding ground for fish,prawns and crabs,that they may not end up in fishermen’s nets too early.
In the last couple of years,the allocation of the land along the coastline to salt mining companies, the former thick mangrove forest has been brought down to just white stained stumps and extensive stretches of sand and crystallized salt remains.
The salt companies have not bothered to rehabilitate the patches of land they use.Kilometres around,you’ll see a modern white desert,,earlier on thick with green but now glistening with evidence of misuse.
Guddy is a campaigner for reform.For a turn about of this practice that is not only harming the environment but also the people.The original dwellers on the land have had to give up their land,and now work as casuals in the salt factories.Their water wells have turned salty,they buy water from surrounding towns. Hard life
That is why for an upward of fifteen years,Guddy has been in and out of courtrooms; that she may be able to take up the responsibility of re-establishing the mangrove forest
‘Actually,Kai was doing this before me.I didn’t think it was anything until I one day went with him,and what I saw made me make a resolve to do the same.’
Along with Friday’s arm community,which is under her head ship,they have been nurturing a pleasant planting project which stands out uniquely amongst the barren former salt crystallization furrows.This; of course, has not been without opposition.As the opening story points out, they has faced all sort of-pin-‘gainst- ballon pressures.
Everyday has been a struggle.
Now,she has the support of th UN,and her efforts have not been flowing into a drain..Last week, Friday 16th March was a great day in Guddy’s memory book.
One of the salt companies agreed to join her in her modest endeavour.The press attested to it,that that was a big day.They showed up,removed their footwear and waded through the mud to capture the planting event.
A total of 31,000 mangroove seeds were planted!31!That’s a lot.
Before,they’ve done 20,10 thousand,but never 31!
The event was attended by various people.Students,foreigners,children,women,fishermen,{sigh}we planted and planted .The field looked quite spiky after the planting,but it was a great feeling to know,,every single seed had made a difference.
[pictures to follow}
and the whole day I couldn’t help steal a look at this wonder woman.I wished to get closer and ask,just ask,,how do you do it?