By Elly Mugunda
In the vast, sun-scorched lands of Laikipia North, Opuntia Stricta, a luscious evergreen plant with pear-shaped, purple-colored fruits, gives off an air of abundance. However, to the local pastoralists, this plant is nothing but trouble.
Introduced from America in the 1940s by the colonialists, this cactus-like plant was meant to help control land degradation and soil erosion, as well as keep wild animals at bay. Little did they know, this plant would become a thorn in the flesh of the locals.
This invasive plant, with its drought-resistant qualities, has spread like wildfire to Dol Dol, Makurian, Il Polei, and Murpusi locations, suffocating the grass and shrubs that herbivores like cows, goats, and sheep rely on for sustenance.
Not only is this plant a nuisance to the local wildlife, but it’s also a danger to the livestock that dare to munch on its juicy fruits and leaves, whose tiny spines cause serious injuries and septic wounds to the animals’ mouths and guts.
Despite its numerous challenges, the plant has emerged as an alternative source of income for some locals, particularly women who harvest and sell the fruits for wine and jam production. Additionally, it is now being recognized as a green energy source, with its leaves being used to generate biogas for cooking through a collaborative program involving Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Agriculture, Laikipia Permaculture Centre, and Florida University in the US.
Caught between utilizing the plant for economic gain and preventing its spread, which has been detrimental to local pastoralists due to livestock deaths caused by consumption of the invasive species, efforts are being made to strike a balance.
Joakim Kuraru, the Maiyanat Community Land Manager, acknowledges the economic benefits of the plant but expresses concern about the impact on livestock: “Using Opuntia for cow feed, biogas production, and wine is great. However, as pastoralists, our main worry is the loss of our livestock.”
According to Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF), Director Celine Achieng, the management strategy for the cactus is being crafted with the help of experts and in consultation with the affected communities. This initiative is being supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The director says they are even exploring how pastoralists can turn this pesky plant into a valuable resource by feeding it to their livestock. By crushing the leaves and grinding the stems to remove those pesky spines, the cactus is being transformed into a nutritious slurry that can be mixed with hay, turning a prickly problem into a palatable solution.
