Mau Forest Destruction

The Mau forest is one of, if not THE most important water catchment areas in Kenya. The rivers that flow from it feed Lake Naivasha, Elementaita, Nakuru. They irrigate the farming areas within and to the west of the rift valley. They are the lifeline for the Kericho tea-growing region. Without them, the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands will be destroyed. Already, some of them are drying up. And with the failed rains last year and this year, the farms and tea are suffering.
What will Kenya do without it's booming tea industry? How will its economy survive? When Naivasha and Nakuru dry up, what will become of the booming tourist industry? How many more fires will start in that parched land?

Kenyan politicians are bringing death, doom and destruction upon their own people. Their tribal infighting over the Mau is out of hand. The wanainchi affected are speaking out on tv, in the newspapers, and on radio. Yet no one seems to take heed. The squatters and politicians involved in the arson are extremely short-sighted and have no understanding of the long-term ramifications of their actions.

Kenya needs rain. It needs its rivers. It needs its forest. Considering the minimum recommended amount of forest cover for an ecologically healthy country is 10%, and Kenya is down to 1. 7%, I'd say we're in a pretty dire state.
I really don't know what to say or do. Kenyan politicians seem hell-bent on ignoring their own people. Their main concern is power and money. The situation grows worse by the day and Kenyans seem only able to stand by and watch as their beloved country goes to hell.

The Kenya Forest Service, the Army, and all other parties involved in fighting forest fires in the Mau area need a lesson in wild fire fighting techniques. I see them hopelessly beating raging flames with branches, losing ground and eventually giving up. There's no need for the loss of forest to be so great. Noah Wekesah blames difficult terrain. Difficult terrain is a sad excuse.
With some very simple equipment (eg: spades, jembes, and axes) the forces involved could cut the fire damage in half. With proper care after a fire, they could also prevent another fire from flaring up in dry, windy conditions.
Noah Wekesah and the forces under his control need to take lessons from US and Australian firefighting bodies who battle massive blazes on impossible terrain every year.
All Kenya needs is a couple of fire experts from the West Coast of the United States to offer advice, instruction, and direction to Kenyan firefighters.

Stop mucking about with branches and buckets! Employ real firefighting techniques or run the risk of being blamed for the massive blazes yourselves. When Kenyans see such half-hearted attempts to put out the flames, it's not hard to imagine that the government might be involved.

Pretty soon, I think Kenya will be ready for a new government. Sooner than the next general elections. What that means, I'm afraid to say. Who knows what will happen or how it will all pan out.

For now, I'm praying, hoping and watching.

God Bless Kenya. God Bless Kenyans. And God, please whack the politicians upside the head.