Charcoal trade thrives despite logging ban

Boda boda riders transporting Charcoal at Kabarak along the Mogotio - Nakuru road on January 14,2018. Even after the government banned logging and burning of charcoal, business is usual for this charcoal traders. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Charcoal business continues to thrive in Baringo County, despite the ban on logging and increased enforcement of law.

In February last year, the government imposed a moratorium on logging as part of its effort to allow reassessment and rationalisation of the forest cover.

Even with the ban in place, some unscrupulous charcoal dealers have been allegedly been colluding with police officers and Kenya Forest Service rangers to flout the rules.

A spot check by The Standard in Nakuru and Baringo counties established that charcoal business is on the rise.

The riders operate in convoys of between eight-10 and pass police road-blocks without fear.

In a day, more than 100 riders pass a police roadblock on the Nakuru-Mogotio road each with at least five bags.

The riders say they get the charcoal from Mogotio and parts of Eldama Ravine in Baringo County.

Most make their stop-overs near Kabarak where they hold brief meetings to plan how they will approach police officers manning the road-blocks.

When this writer approached the riders and pausing as a buyer and they declined to sell the charcoal claiming offloading was tedious and the offer of Sh1,000 was less than the market price.

In Nakuru town, the charcoal dealers make at least Sh2,000 per bag which they purchase at Sh750.

Concerned the eight who had formed a convoy will be harassed by the officers, The Standard followed them to a roadblock where they were flagged down and in less than a minute allowed to leave.

“We are doing our work and police officers are doing theirs, we have no problem and will pass the roadblock with our goods,” said the rider.

Further checks along the Eldama Ravine-Mogotio route reveals charcoal burning is a usual business. Charcoal dealers along the route display bags of charcoal by the roadside.

At Muserechi and Esageri centres on the route several bags could be spotted. The sellers however cannot be spotted unless an interested buyer approaches.

Mau Head of Conservancy Fred Ogombe said the influx in the charcoal business from the area has come to their attention.

He said the ban on charcoal has received resistance and illegal sellers have devised a means to evade arrest.