Cactus is wreaking havoc on a community in Mayianat in Laikipia North, with some residents forced to relocate.
The community has lost a big chunk of their grazing land to the invasive plant.
But all is not lost as the non-native Opuntia Stricta species has become a source of income especially for women in Mayianat.
With support from development partners like the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the women are using biological and mechanical means to fight the weed.
Nkuyai Lemale, a board member of Mayianat community group, said even though the cactus is a menace to them, women are earning money from it through land rehabilitation.
They are paid Sh500 per day to uproot the weed, destroy it and plant grass.
“This has empowered many of us and we are able to pay school fees for our children and buy food for our families,” Lemale said.
The community relies on livestock and residents are get money from the project to improve their lives.
But it is dangerous work because the plant is a health hazard.
“We do not have any protective gear and use our bare hands to uproot the plant. The thorns hurt our hands and we are not sure if they are poisonous, thus risking our health,” Lemale said.
The plant also hurts the goats. “When they feed on the grass, the sharp thorns of the cactus pierce their eyes and many of the goats are now blind.”
Josephine Ruso from Mosul community land has started a small business from the proceeds of the casual work she does of uprooting the cactus and planting grass for land restoration.
She has a kitchen garden to cater for her family's food and nutrition needs.
Mayianat community land manager Yoakim Kuraru said the cactus has invaded 60 per cent of 16,000 acres and the community can no longer utilise the land.
“The invasive species has even forced some people to move out of their homes. The cactus is also harmful to the animals. The goats go blind and those that consume the plant’s fruit are likely to suffer from digestive issues,” he said.
Kuraru said they are using biological and mechanical ways to control the invasive species. They have introduce a sap-sucking insect that feeds on the cactus.
“We infest the insect into fresh leaves of the cactus and put it into the heap of the harvested cactus and let it spread and feed on the cactus until it rots,” Karura said.
The mechanical control method by community members manually uprooting the cactus with support from donors.
The community has set aside Opuntia Day when members voluntarily uproot the cactus around their homes.
“This is done once a month. But we also use the approach of employing women and the youth to uproot the cactus for Sh500 per day. This is done through the support of partners like the FAO in a move to empower the women and provide them with a source of income,” Kuraru said.
Despite these efforts, the invasive cactus is still spreading. Its fruits are sweet and are enjoyed by monkeys, camels and humans.
The manager said they are seeking support for a tractor that will help in digging out pits to bury the weed so deep that it does not multiply.
Husna Mbarak from FAO said one of the biggest problems in most of the rangelands and community land is the invasive species like the cactus.
“The opuntia is one of the invasive species, which has pros and cons. The cactus has benefits such as production of wine, marmalade, jam and in some instances it is medicinal,” she said.
FAO has introduced a process of breaking down opuntia to make fodder for livestock.
“There is a tool we are using to shred the opuntia and let it dry, then it is mixed up with other fodder, including the types of grasses the community has. Once the weed has dried up, it can also be used to make manure,” Mbarak said.
“We should also look at the beneficial side of this invasive species and make use of it and earn a livelihood.”