The residents of the Tana River District have embraced the 10,000 hectare Jatropha project and are raising their voices in support of Bedford Biofuels against Nature Kenya, an environmental organization trying to oppose the project.  Bedford has met all the requirements to get approval from NEMA including a feasibility study and an Environmental Impact assessment.  The Tana River residents have seen how neighboring community, Pekatoni, has benefited from Jatropha biofuel produced on small farms in the Lamu area for the last 2 years.  The Tana River District is one of the poorest  regions in the coast province and has no stable income for the community.  The biggest benefit to locals will be the opportunities that will be created through employment.
The News video is in both English and Swahili.  The interviewees comments have been translated below:

Robert Guyo: ”When the price of fuel shot up, the cost of living has gone up. This project when completed, all things will be ok.”

Grace Oguta: “I tried fishing, but the fish have disappeared because there is no water. Jatropha came to Tarasaa (a village near Kitangale ranch) and we are happy that our children will benefit.”

Naomi Mwanamawe: “The benefit of the project is that our children will get jobs, they will go to school and this will reduce drug abuse.”

Robert Guyo: “Why can’t they (Nature Kenya) come to the residents and explain to us (what they are saying) so that we can weigh and see if Bedford is cheating us. What we know is that this project is beneficial to us”.

Tana Delta Locals Voice Support for Bedford Biofuels Jatropha Project

Jatropha