State must move to stop illegal logging

Illegal logging has been going on in Ngong Forest yet those concerned are not doing anything to stop it. And this is not the only affected forest. In some cases, forest officials have been accused of colluding with unscrupulous businessmen to cut down trees in our forests.

As a country, we should not take chances, especially with the ever-changing climate. The situation is likely to get even worse now that Kenya does not have the UN recommended forest cover. We must protect our forests, some of which have been major water catchment areas.

As much as Kenya has recently been praised for reducing depletion of the ozone layer by phasing out some substances, more needs to be done to guarantee a healthy environment for humans and animals.

The Government must act fast to address illegal logging in our forests and officials found to be involved should be severely punished.

In March, Kenya Power announced its plans to cut down on the use of wooden poles by 50 per cent by the end of next year. This is laudable and we hope other organizations that rely on wood can find alternatives so we can save our forests.