The barren and desolate environment of some parts of Kitui replicates itself in some parts of Machakos and Embu counties, the location of KenGen’s 7-Forks power plants.

Scattered haphazardly in the landscape are simplified brick kilns, some broken down and long abandoned, while others still spouting wisps of smoke… evidence of illegal and rampant charcoal burning activities in the semi-arid area.

Muveshi growing in a school woodlot, Machakos.

The desperation is evident. Persistent drought, extreme temperatures, and poor soil structures that curtail farming are some of the challenges facing the three counties. Villagers from the surrounding area spend most of their days looking for firewood. This means that they will have to go further in a daily search of this source of fuel while ceaselessly destroying the environment.