KFS chief conservator warns against corruption

***CCF Julius Kamau ( second from left)***

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenya Forest Service boss Julius Kamau has warned against corruption in a meeting to outline leadership agenda for the forest sector.

He noted that corruption affects service delivery and any officer found tolerating the vice would be dealt with accordingly.

“Going forward, there will be a focus on holistic management and conservation forests whereby every station manager will be responsible for maintaining compartment registers, maps, and all other professional forestry documents to inform management decisions,” said Kamau.

“Corruption and absenteeism from duty stations have been affecting service delivery, this will not be tolerated and action will be taken against errant officers,” he warned.

The new conservator promised to look into the recruitment and capacity building issues, which have been pending for a while.

As part of his strategy for the sector, he said he would focus more on partnerships with development partners, private sector, county governments, NGOs and other stakeholders with a priority for the Service.

He called on the staff to work closely with county governments to give technical support in the implementation of transitional implementation plans.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kamau on Monday held discussions with the University of Nairobi's (UON) acting Principal College of Agriculture and Veterinary Services Rose Nyikal on areas where the institution can partner with KFS for a progressive tree planting partnership in a bid to attain the target of 10 per cent forest cover by 2022.

Areas that were discussed included the establishment of indigenous and exotic tree nurseries, planting of trees on available UON land and also the adoption of a gazetted forest bloc for rehabilitation by the institution.