Nairobi: Residents of the Ilng'osuani sub-location have teamed up to uproot an invasive weed, ipomoea carnea, which has invaded their grazing fields as they await the long rains. Led by their Senior Assistant Chief, Maureen Maya, the residents come up in teams and uproot the invasive weed, also known as Bush Morning Glory, which has mushroomed in most of their grazing fields and has greatly affected the growth of pasture for their livestock.
According to Kenya News Agency, several acres of the land have been invaded by the chokeweed, greatly affecting the growth of the much-needed pasture for the animals. The residents have come together to uproot the weed before it flowers, as controlling it after it rains and it starts flowering isn't effective. Chief Maureen Maya explains that although the uprooting method is labor-intensive and time-consuming, they have no other alternative since pasture cannot grow under the weed, and livestock cannot consume it.
Efforts to develop herbicides for the weed have so far been unsuccessful, leaving uprooting as the only viable option. The weed is propagated by stem fragments and seeds, which may be carried to other areas by floodwater. It poses a significant threat to cattle if consumed in large quantities and is poisonous to goats, affecting their central nervous system.
The Chief noted that once the weed matures, its hairy seeds are easily carried by water, regrowing once it rains. However, uprooting it before maturity prevents regeneration, which is why the community is taking action before the rainy season.
In addition to uprooting the weed, the Chief is urging residents to plant and nurture trees to mitigate climate change. John Rakita, a local resident, emphasizes that livestock is the backbone of their livelihood, and the ipomoea weed has led to substantial economic losses as they have to relocate their animals due to the lack of pasture.
Another resident, Faith Topoika, highlights the increased workload since the introduction of the weed, as they are forced to search for pasture in areas not yet invaded. The weed, first detected in Kenya during the extreme El Ni±o rains of 1997, has spread to an estimated 3 million acres in Kajiado County alone.
In June last year, Kajiado County Governor Joseph Ole Lenku declared the invasive Ipomoea weed as a county disaster, citing it as a massive threat to pastoralism.