The recently launched Masalani Municipality Board members have said they will focus on environmental management and eradication of the mathenge (prosopis Juliflora) plant that is a menace in the area.

The Municipality Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Yussuf Mohamed Towane, said the Board Members focus will be on cleanliness of the town, proper drainage and the irksome Mathenge weed plant, which has been a nightmare to the residents.

The Municipal taskforce proposed an operation to be called ‘ Operation Maliza Mathenge,’ aimed at eradicating the invasive mathenge plants, that have been a nuisance in the town.

The mathenge plants not only pose a threat to the environment, but also security and safety along the roads, as the plant also thrives along numerous roads, thus hindering visibility.

According to the CEO, to carry out the operation, the Municipal team will mobilize a group of youth in the next two weeks, to uproot and burn the troublesome weed.

The Municipality Board Members lead by the Chief Executi
ve (CEO), Yussuf Mohamed Towane , Yunis Abdi Ibrahim, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) and CECM Lands and Urban Planning ,Mr. Mohamed Hussein Hadi , made the remarks Thursday when they held a meeting to brainstorm on the agenda on implementation of the new Masalani Municipality strategies in order to serve the residents satisfactorily.

Mr Towane and the Board team realised the mathenge menace is also a problem to other plant growing under it, as it depletes water and soil nutrients, thus suffocating other plants that grow underneath.

The Board that comprises seven (7) members promised to engage both skilled and unskilled local residents on employment opportunities including tea girls, ground men and women, security guards and clerical.

Masalani is one of the three towns in Garissa County that were given Municipality Charter last year. Others are Daabab and Garissa towns.

Source: Kenya News Agency