Foresters launch crackdown against loggers

By Kipchumba Kemei and Karanja Njoroge

A security operation has been launched in Narok to crack down on charcoal and timber dealers.

The joint operation by the Kenya Forest Service (KFC) and Administration Police yesterday impounded hundreds of bags of charcoal and tonnes of timber.

The area is the largest producer of charcoal, accounting for an estimated 16 million bags annually.

The operation took place two months after the KFS Director D K Mbugua lifted a ban on movement of forest products in the area.

But the area District Forest Officer Joshua Charana said he would not abide by the circular until arrangements were made to ensure the permits were not used to destroy Mau Forest.

"Movement permits will be issued when arrangements have been put in place to check environmental degradation and until the current drought ends to check forest fires," he said.

The ban had been slapped in October after local leaders led by Culture and National Heritage Minister William ole Ntimama claimed the activity was fuelling the destruction of Mau Forest. Mr Ntimama, the Narok North MP, and his Narok South colleague Nkoidila Lankas said the permits were being used to harvest indigenous tress in the controversial forest.

Since the KFS lifted the ban several depots have sprung up on Narok-Mai Mahiu and Narok-Bomet roads.

Mr Tuqa Jirmo, a Kenya Wildlife Service senior warden, who led the operation, faulted KFS for lifting the ban, saying it was done without consultation.

Mature trees

"The move will make policing of the forest difficult. It should be reversed," he said.

The Kenya Timber Manufacturers Association claims the trees were rotting in gazetted forests following a 10-year ban imposed on logging by the Government to protect trees.

During a meeting attended by more than 100 stakeholders in Elburgon, the association said they have lobbied the Government to have the ban lifted without success.

"The trees are occupying more than 40,000 hectares of forest land and should have been harvested by now," said Mr Samuel Gitonga, the association’s national chairman.

He said in Rift Valley alone there are some 23,000 hectares of mature trees that were 30 years old and rotting in various forests.