Residents protest destruction of forests

A section of Narasha forest block which is part of the larger Mau forest complex where Eldama Ravine MP Moses Lessonet wants 100 acres hived off for the construction of a secondary school PHOTO:BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD]

Residents of Elgeyo Marakwet have protested the wanton destruction of forest cover in the county.

They are accusing the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) of abetting the damage.

And yesterday, the residents staged a demonstration, stopped lorries removing wood products from the forest and forced them to offload the products before chasing the drivers away.

They said they were angered by continued removal of trees in the forest despite a court order issued in October last year restraining harvesting of the produce.

"We are concerned about the status of the water project, which is intended to serve thousands of people living in the semi-arid Kerio valley region. If the harvesting continues, there will be no water," claimed Joseph Kipruto, a local resident.

DEVOLVE FORESTS

He said the dam was in jeopardy because water levels were being affected by the destruction of the water source and the donor was considering relocating it.

"We cannot withstand the rampant destruction of our forests anymore and we are appalled by the way KFS is handling this issue," said Benjamin Mbusi, another resident.

Mr Mbusi said KFS was allowing tree harvesting in total disregard of the court order and snubbing locals whenever they went to seek solutions to the problem.

"We are calling on the Government to transfer all KFS officers in the area because they have failed to carry out their mandate," said Mbusi.

Elgeyo Forest Station Manager Charles Wari, while acknowledging receiving the court order, dismissed the claims saying the trees being removed from the forest were not from the dam site.

"We are aware of the court order, which barred harvesting of trees and fuel materials from around the Emsoo dam, and we have fully complied with it. Harvesting is done in areas away from the water source," said Mr Wari.

Area Governor Alex Tolgos said the forest resource should be devolved because counties are in a better position to champion the protection and conservation of forests.

"The county governments are at the forefront in environmental conservation," said Mr Tolgos.