Ogiek leaders in Nakuru County now want the government to incorporate their herbal expertise in helping curb diseases. Speaking to the press in Nakuru town, their chair Joseph Towett argued that the government was ignoring the herbalists’ main role which could help in alleviating human suffering. He cited that majority of them were well knowledgeable in the art of making medicine that could be used to treat serious ailments. Towett added that the herbal medicine which had been passed from one generation to the other was important as it was what they relied on in the bushes. “We have herbs that can help cure serious diseases. There are cases where we also treat malaria with special type of leaves. The government is ignoring very important people when it comes to medicines,” he added. His views were echoed by Samuel Olonorok who cited that they were well trained to handle any disease or bites from any wild animals. “We have been taught the role of each tree or leaf and what disease it can cure. We do not know why the government spends a lot of money buying medicine which we can offer treatment for,” he said. He said that they were ready to engage with government experts, even if it meant taking them to the bushes, to teach them about the various medicinal plants.

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