THE UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG

espondent said that they planted such species in great numbers so that they could regenerate
in abundance so that they could abundantly found by any person in need of such plants.
Another 5.57% informed this study that they teach their children about such plant and through
such teaching; the children can learn to preserve such plant and even protect them as they
grow up.
On the contrary, there were rather very negative responses regarding individual perceptions of
what the people do to the plants that are perceived to be of bad luck. These are treated
differently! They are condemned plants. It was found out that unlike plant species perceived
to be of good luck, condemned plants, trees or crops have to face the choice of extinction
through the various methods. It was observed that such plants are avoided or destroyed. In
obtaining the varied perceptions regarding such plants the respondents were asked a leading
question; what do you do to plants that are perceived to be of bad luck? The following table
summarizes the various responses regarding community treatment of condemned plants.
Table 6.8 Individual responses regarding treatment of condemned plants.
Response Frequency Percentage
Burn them down 138 62.7
Cut them down 52 23.6
Leave the land with such plants 22 10
Avoid such plants 8 0.36
Total 220 100
Source: Field Survey data.
From the above table, 62.7% of the respondents answered that such condemned plants were
burnt down. While 23.6% agreed that such plants were usually cut down when found to grow
especially around the homesteads. Only 10% informed the study that they would vacate the
land where they found that such plant species had existed. It is however important to note that
the institutional beliefs surrounding condemned plants are; such plants were habitats for the
bad spirits and bad omens. The omens contained in such plants were suspected to move closer
to those who lived or used them. Such plants are never used in the day-to-day lives of the
Luhya sub-tribes. They are only brought into light during performance of rituals such as
cursing those who have proved to be a disgrace to the community. What was however
interesting to find out that this practice of destroying condemned plants was only done in
areas around the homesteads. The implication derived here is that condemned plants found in
the forest remain unaffected and avoided. This gives the forest ecosystem a chance to flourish
as they are practically avoided.
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