Wekesa says former regime to blame for deforestation

By Peter Orengo

Forestry and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa has blamed former Kanu Government for perpetuating forest destruction.

The minister said then Government officials condoned indiscriminate tree harvesting and allowed human settlement in major forests.

"A lot of forests were destroyed in the 90s due to politics. The present Government is trying to rectify the situation but it is proving to be a challenge," he said during the launch of the ministry’s Strategic Plan for 2009-20013.

He asked MPs to lead their constituents in planting trees to replenish what has been destroyed.

He said Kenyans’ thirst for land was the main challenge to efforts to conserve the major water towers.

His Fisheries counterpart, Paul Otuoma, echoed Wekesa’s sentiments but said overpopulation and destructive farming methods were also to blame for climate change.

Finnish Ambassador to Kenya Heli Sirve asked the Government to recognise forests in the Budget by allocating substantial amount to the sector.