The ban on charcoal burning in Kitui by Governor Charity Ngilu has sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans.
In a video circulating on social media, the governor seemingly instructs Ukambani residents to impound lorries transporting charcoal or sand from the region to other counties.
“If you knew that I was going to kill you, will you wait for me to kill you or will you kill me first?” Ngilu says in the video.
She adds, “Because these people want to kill us, we will kill them first.”
She has denied inciting her constituents, saying the ban is meant to curb environmental degradation in Ukambani.
Governor Ngilu’s remarks sparked outrage from a section of Kiambu leaders, who asked the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to order for her immediate arrest.
Kiambu deputy governor James Nyoro and Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, have accused Ngilu of allegedly inciting youth to torch vehicles suspected to be transporting charcoal and passing through Kitui.
Transporters in Limuru, Kiambu county on Saturday held protests demanding the arrest of Ngilu for allegedly inciting youths to burn lorries transporting charcoal in the county.
This comes after a lorry was set ablaze in Kanyonyo area in Kitui by youths on Wednesday.
Several Kenyans on Twitter have come in defense of the governor after she was criticised by the Kiambu leaders.
@JuliusMmasi said, “Central Kenya is greener than other parts of Kenya, Therefore, Charcoal traders can utilize such resources other than destroying desert-like areas of Kitui County and such like areas, Logic is Mt. Kenya has many trees for charcoal burning, Start utilizing #NgiluBansCharcoal.”
@Mukambaz said “Congrats @mamangilu for Banning Charcoal Harvesting. These people came, cleared our forest and we receive no Rain of late. From where Kitui Borders Tana River County we have no thick Forest as it was before when we used to hunt elephants and other wild Animals. #Ngilubanscharcoal.”
@AmedoShair said, “The charcoal burning traditional technologies have only 10% efficiency meaning that for every 100 bags of charcoal recovered, 900 bags are produced as ash. This is a very disastrous course in environmental conservation. #NgiluBansCharcoal.”
@Merrycane said, “#NgiluBansCharcoal Ngilu is simply right. If they wanted they can protest to the moon and back. Watu wajitegemee."