Kenya's Boni People Given Seeds to Take Up Farming After Losing Land
Lamu County government has urged the hunters and gatherers who live in the Boni Forest to take up farming to avoid hunger crisis.
Hundreds of Boni people live in Lamu East where a multi-agency security team has been conducting Operation Linda Boni to root out Al-Shabaab militants from the forest.
Since the onset of the security exercise nine months ago, Boni people have been denied access to the forest for honey harvesting, hunting and gathering food and consequently forced to depend on humanitarian aid from the government.
In a program to boost uptake of farming among the Boni people, the national in conjunction with the county government and Kenya Red Cross supplied many households with free seeds and fertiliser.
Speaking to Nation in Lamu on Sunday, Lamu County Commissioner Mr Joseph Kanyiri said maize, green grams and amaranth seeds had already been distributed to all the families in Basuba, Milimani, Mangai, Mararani and even at the Bodhei junction.
Mr Kanyiri advised the Boni people, particularly those living in the operation areas, to embrace farming to avoid a looming hunger crisis.
USAID
