As Mother Nature keeps fighting back, part of its beauty has given up under the impact of climate change. This is the case after devastating floods in Kilifi County, Sabaki area, Kenya, swept an 800-year-old Mekatilili Baobab.
Named after Mijikienda’s legend, Mekatilili Wa Menza, the tree held the great historical heritage of the coastal community. For instance, the giant indigenous tree was a renowned praying ground and shrine.
Also, the tree was a tourist attraction, especially for the locals. Visitors would be seen hugging the tree, mostly giving thanks to nature’s beauty. Falling under a climatic calamity emphasizes why we should protect our environment as part of our heritage.
Elizabeth Wathuti, O.G.W, a Global Environmentalist and Young Climate Leader, and her team, Green Generation Initiative (GGI), visited Mekatilili Baobab’s remains. In an X post, she stated, “The tree stood as a symbol of resilience and history for over 800 years. Let us honor our heritage by safeguarding and commemorating the natural monuments that connect us to our past and inspire our future.”
The Mekatilili Baobab is yet another Indigenous tree lost after all eight baobab trees purchased by Bidzina Ivanishvili withered after delays in the transplanting process. The selling of trees received criticism from local and international environmentalists, plus the Kenyan citizens.
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