How illegal logging is killing Lembus Forest

Lembus elder Albert Chemitai shows the extensive destruction of Lembus Forest at Narasha. (Photo: File/Standard)

Lembus Forest is known for its attraction. The forest, part of the Eastern Mau Complex, is home to rare species of both indigenous and exotic trees.

However, inside this forest, beyond the lush-green towering trees, lie vast tracks of bare lands as a result of massive felling of trees.

Illegal logging is a daily activity here with the narrow roads in the forest jammed with tractors that supply logs to saw mills in Baringo and Nakuru counties.

When The Standard visited the forest to assess the situation, sources warned that we were endangering our lives and our equipment could also be confiscated.

Richard Kimworor, a member of the local Sabatia Community Forest Association, said cartels are colluding with some forest officials to sell trees to saw millers.

Last month, Kimworor was 'arrested' alongside Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers at Kiptuget Forest. They had gone to assess the massive felling of trees. The EACC detectives were also investigating charcoal burning, which has affected many forests in Kenya.

Kimworor said they were not allowed to access the forest.

Massive trees usher one into the Narasha block of the forest. It is only after getting deeper inside that one comes face-to-face with the destruction wrought on trees.

The forest borders several saw mills and timber yards. This has led to the growth of Kaptim centre.

Most homesteads here own sawmills or have leased their farms to saw millers who find it cheaper to live near the source of their raw materials.

Close to four kilometres deep into the forest, one sees huge tracts of land spreading to the neighbouring village.

Thousands of tree stumps dot the expansive open stretches of land. The forest is a pale shadow of its former self. When we visited, resident were busy preparing the land for the planting season.

Meanwhile, the tractors ferrying the logs are driven by suspiciously looking young men. They drivers converse in hushed tones and sped off when we arrived.

Locals say business is 'vibrant' with tractors transporting logs and charcoal until dead of night. There is now resting; it is work and more work throughout the weekends and even during holidays.

"Even at night, you hear sounds of power saws and tractors," Kimworor said.

The eight blocks of Lembus forests and the larger Eastern Mau after being depleted fast. This has been blamed on the forest officers who allegedly collude with illegal loggers.

Cutting down of trees which has been replicated in most of the eight blocks with Kiptuget, Narasha, Esageri, Sabatia and Koibatek forests being the worst hit.

The local community and conservationists are concerned about destruction of trees in the forest, which is a major water catchment.

Lembus Council of Elders chairman Joseph Leboo said: "We are surprised because it seems the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) does not have a proper plan of cutting down trees and replanting."

He accused KFS of excluding the local community from the management of the forest despite an earlier agreement that the agency would involve the locals in conservation.