A family in Tharaka Nithi has put up an iconic tree for sale in a bid to raise Ksh500,000 in medical funds for their kin who is in hospital.
The Mutunguruni tree is believed to be among the tallest trees in Kenya and is also said to be 200-years old -according to the locals.
The family stated that they had taken care of the tree for many years but after consultations, they decided to sell it to get money for the treatment of one of their own.
"We have no intention of cutting it down but to sell it to somebody so that we can raise money for the hospital bill of my brother," a family representative explained.
He added that they had already spoken to the chief and even sought permission from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) on how to proceed with the mission.
The tree is a tourist attraction in the area and has served as a shrine where community elders go for divine intervention in times of drought or other calamities.
The family had managed to make a business venture out of the tree charging between Ksh50 and KSh100 to those curious to see the tree up close and Ksh500 for large groups.
It is visible from most parts of the county and is a crucial landmark commonly used as a signpost for navigations in the county.
Dr Paul Musili, a foresty expert who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke, disclosed that the owner of the land has the right to use the resources including trees in it.
"When it comes to trees, the owner will only be limited if the tree holds spiritual value to the community like a Mugumo tree," he explained.
Kenyans.co.ke could not independently verify the height of the tree as there are no formal records with recent estimates putting it at 90 metres.
However, in 2016, a local publication put the tree's height at 100 feet (30.48 metres).
In a 2015 interview, Tharaka-Nithi County KFS manager Joseph Wakiaga stated that there were plans to have the tree pronounced as one of the cultural sites in the county and have a small cultural centre there.
Watch a feature on the iconic tree courtesy of NTV:
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