By Vincent Mbatuk
Baringo, Kenya: Environmentalists and local leaders in Koibatek District have raised concern over forest destruction locally and demanded for action against those behind it.
They accused greedy forest officers of colluding with illegal saw millers to destroy hectares of forest cover before the County Government fully takes control. Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi visited affected areas and ordered for suspension of logging while the matter is investigated. Baringo County Deputy Speaker Kiplimo Tanui raised the alarm over ongoing destruction in several forest blocks in Koibatek and parts of North Baringo.
Wiped out
According to the leaders, unless action is taken the expansive forests are on the verge of being wiped out. Koibatek forest, a catchment area for six major rivers, has been under threat from illegal loggers who have been indiscriminately harvesting trees, leaving behind ugly empty patches. The rivers are Kaberes, Roramane, Kamundara, Tabare, Roret and Kipmerumeru. Koibatek forest is part of the Cherangany water tower. They demanded the wanton destruction that has been evident during the campaign and election periods stop and those behind it prosecuted.
A resident accused some unscrupulous forest guards of selling trees to harvesters for as low as Sh1, 000 per tree. “We are afraid but we have no one to complain to since the people we are supposed to complain to are selling the trees to illegal loggers,” said a resident who did not want to be named because of fear of reprisals from the armed guards. The residents said they were being arrested for using the forest paths as short cuts, arguing that this was intended to block them from witnessing the extent of the destruction in the middle of the forest.
But Koibatek District forester Antony Musyoka denied the allegations made against his office and officers. He said he was not aware of cases of illegal destruction, saying they were only disposing off materials within authorised plantation areas. “My officers are not involved in illegal logging. We are only disposing material allowed by law,” he said.
