The national government wants more than 145 households in Gwassi Forest in Suba South to vacate to protect the forest catchment area. It is a water catchment area, like other areas in Homa Bay like Lambwe, Wire, Homa Hills and Kodera Forest. Macharia said settlement in the forest promotes soil erosion which causes floods in the lower areas of Suba South. Gwassi Forest is on a steep hill and when people cultivate farms, the topsoil is eroded and slides to lower areas, the conservator said. “This promotes flooding and mudslides that cause deaths and property damage in the lower forest,” he said.

Source: The Star March 07, 2019 19:18 UTC