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As we sit down and wonder how we will get to work tomorrow with the current oil crisis, and also wonder even more on whether or not the we will have that loaf of bread tomorrow, there is even a bigger danger and crisis in waiting. One that will not only leave the millions in Rift Valley homeless but will, destroy and simply cripple our country basket of food!
It was not until a dormant volcano erupted in Puerto Montt, Chile in South America; it was revealed by researchers that a total 15 volcanic mountains and hills all along the rift valley may erupt anytime! Worse still there is only one almost confirmed extinct mountain in the country being Mt. Kenya which up to now has never been scientifically proven that it is. Given the fat that the rift valley is experiencing the tear of the eastern and western region, it is not clear how long it will take until we in Kenya experience the devastating effects of these volcanic activities!
It is with such pity that the Government has not put in place machinery to monitor the seismic earth movements hence are able to predict the exact moment of these happening! At an estimated cost of Kshs. 5 million the equipment could be installed and come in handy in saving the country such destruction.
Looking at it agriculturally, Rift valley being the country’s gallery, it will be quite unfortunate if it occurs as most people will be left homeless, their produce will be affected whether or not it happens while the crops are in the shambas or in storage! Most of the country granaries are in the region hence if affected we could lose millions of maize which is almost like the staple food for most Kenyan. The Nyanza region widely depending on fish will also be affected s most fish will not be available to be fished due to water pollution. There is a way animals can predict such occurrence, which perhaps should be used to predict in future as they are more accurate in these than human beings! Therefore the farmers here will be affected; those in the Nyanza region growing banana and sugar cane will also be affected hence reduce our banana supply and sugar making too!
If individual mountains are to be assessed then looking these is even of larger magnitude to especially the population surrounding the hills or mountains.
Some of the mountains that could erupt include the Barrier, Central Island, Chyulu Hillls, Emuruangogolak, Korosi and Longonot. Others include South Island, Suswa, Paka, Silali, Ol Doinyo Eburru, Menengai, Ol Karia, Namarunu and North Island volacanoes.
Therefore we cannot totally ignore what is going on we can actually visualize what Kenya will be if these happened!
On the other side if the government is prepared well enough then we get to have our soils replenished again and hence expect a bumper harvest once the soil cools off and the eruptions subside and are perhaps rendered dormant, active or extinct again by the researcher and qualified personnel!
Part of the source of these material was obtained from the Kenya's Weekly Advertiser Issue 7,2008 of the Monday, May, 12, 2008
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Terri
I am a B Sc. Horticulture graduate and have a passion for writing and especially politics but at times my other side takes over the political sides and I do stories about life, just normal life...
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