{"id":8327,"date":"2026-05-20T08:36:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T08:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/?p=8327"},"modified":"2026-05-20T08:36:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T08:36:42","slug":"government-intensifies-bamboo-planting-to-curb-flooding-and-wildlife-conflict-in-budalangi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/?p=8327","title":{"rendered":"Government intensifies bamboo planting to curb flooding and Wildlife Conflict in Budalang\u2019i"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wildlife Conservation Secretary John Chumo and Wildlife Research and Training Institute Director Dr Patrick Omondi leads the bamboo growing campaign in Budalang’i. A total of 10000 bamboo seedlling were planted Pic by Vincent Ogunde<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government has stepped up efforts to restore riparian areas along the River Nzoia in Bunyala Sub-county, Busia County, as part of a broader strategy to curb persistent flooding and reduce human-wildlife conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking during the launch of a bamboo planting campaign in Budalang\u2019i, Wildlife Conservation Secretary John Chumo said the initiative aims to rehabilitate degraded riverbanks and protect communities living in flood-prone areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chumo noted that continued human activity within riparian and wetland zones has disrupted natural ecosystems, forcing wildlife, including crocodiles, hippos, and snakes, into human settlements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEncroachment of riparian land has led to the destruction of wildlife habitats, increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict. These animals now pose a direct threat to residents and their livelihoods,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He revealed that the government has spent approximately Sh1billion annually over the past three years to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict, with Busia County receiving about Sh15million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he emphasized the urgent need to shift focus toward preventive measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn cases of loss of life, compensation cannot replace what has been lost. That is why we must invest in long-term solutions such as ecosystem restoration,\u201d Chumo added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged residents to embrace bamboo farming, noting the crop\u2019s dual environmental and economic benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Power of Bamboo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr Patrick Omondi, Director of the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, confirmed that 10,000 bamboo seedlings have already been planted in partnership with local communities and community-based organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScaling bamboo restoration in flood-prone areas like Budalang\u2019i is not optional; it is essential,\u201d Dr. Omondi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBamboo has a unique capacity to address multiple challenges at once. Its extensive root system firmly holds soil along riverbanks, significantly reducing erosion and preventing the collapse of river edges during heavy rains.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Omondi added that bamboo\u2019s rapid growth makes it one of the most effective tools for land restoration, creating a protective buffer that slows floodwaters and restores habitats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also highlighted its role in climate change mitigation through high carbon sequestration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond conservation, the economic potential is significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a growing market for bamboo products, including construction materials, furniture, and handicrafts. By integrating bamboo into agroforestry, communities can diversify their income while protecting the environment,\u201d Omondi noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Institute will soon deploy a team to conduct a formal assessment of human-wildlife coexistence in the area to guide future interventions and targeted mitigation measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Goals and Local Safety<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Busia County Commissioner Stephen Orinde noted that the initiative aligns with the national target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBusia County has a target of 7.5 million trees, and we have achieved 8.3 percent so far. Local administrators are working closely with communities to scale up these efforts,\u201d Orinde said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that bamboo planting complements existing infrastructure, such as dykes, which have already helped mitigate flooding in Budalang\u2019i.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the rainy season approaching, Orinde urged residents to remain vigilant and move from high-risk areas early to avoid disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is always better to prevent disasters than to respond to them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project received a warm welcome from local stakeholders. Auma Makhulo, representing the Bunyala Catchment Area Water Resources Users Association, noted that the project enhances safety while creating a new economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis initiative will protect our people from floods and provide income through the sale of seedlings. We encourage the expansion of this program so more residents can benefit,\u201d Makhulo said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wildlife Conservation Secretary John Chumo and Wildlife Research and Training Institute Director Dr Patrick Omondi leads the bamboo growing campaign […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8327"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8327"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8329,"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8327\/revisions\/8329"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wrti.go.ke\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}