Ruto orders KFS officers sacked as 12 forests ravaged by logging

President William Ruto (left) in Gilgil during a passing-out parade for over 2,600 recruits joining KFS. [PCS]

President William Ruto has ordered the Kenya Forest Service board to sack 23 managers and rangers found to have engaged in illegalities leading to forest destruction.

This follows a report by the government revealing the continued destruction of forests in the country implicating forest rangers, the Community Forest Association, and board members.

Ruto said the 23 axed officials are under investigation by the DCI.

"From tomorrow, I don't want them in government payroll. These are saboteurs encouraging the destruction of our environment," he said.

According to the government, various forest stations in Nakuru, Kericho, and Nyandarua Counties have been destroyed by illegal loggers.

Investigations conducted indicate that in Nakuru's Kiptunga forest station theft of a plantation has been reported and a forester and rangers are allegedly involved. Illegal activities including logging, charcoal burning, and farming continue in major forests across the country.

At Baraget Forest station logging in indigenous forest continues and a forester and rangers are allegedly involved in the vice.

In Logoman and Sururu forest stations rangers are allegedly involved in the illegal logging of plantations while in Molo Forest station KFS board leadership has been implicated.

In Kericho County officials of the Community Forest Association, a forester, and rangers allegedly colluded in planning and carrying out illegal logging and charcoal burning at Sorget Forest.

Encroachment, illegal logging, and charcoal burning are experienced in the Tendeno forest. At Makutano forest station a forester allegedly is involved in logging and illegal farming.

Illegal logging of plantations and illegal farming in the forest. Forester is responsible.

In Nyandarua County a forester has been implicated in illegal cultivation and logging at North Kinangop Forest while in Geta Forest station: a forester and Board management have been implicated in the illegal removal of logs.

The President said the government will take necessary steps to protect the environment and ensure good officers in KFS have an opportunity to serve. Dr Ruto spoke Gilgil during a passing-out parade for over 2,600 recruits joining KFS, yesterday.

Governors Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta), Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones and MPs David Gikaria (Nakuru Town East), Charity Kathambi (Njoro) and other leaders attended.

Ruto said the recruits would address the shortage of rangers and the challenges facing forest management.

He noted that the government is committed to implementing the constitutional tree cover mandate and resilience in response to the effects of climate change and fulfilling the commitment to reduce emissions by 31 per cent. "Those found either compromised, incompetent, or engaged in corruption in this space that has led to the destruction of our forest assets, I instructed the board to remove them," Ruto said.

Ruto said there must be a thorough clean-up in KFS and directed the Ministry of Forestry to restore sanity in the organisation.

He said the few people engaging in criminal activity will not be allowed to deny the country the opportunity to exploit forest assets. Forest resources, he said, should be used to grow the economy and create jobs.

Ruto commended the Community Forest Associations for the role they play in conservation and safeguarding the forests against destruction.

He revealed that the government will embark on reviewing the terms of forest officers.

Ruto further directed that going forward all uniforms, shoes, and items required by security services must be manufactured locally and made by Kenyans.

Environment CS Soipan Tuya said illegal logging, charcoal burning and encroachment pose a major threat to forests in the county.

Tuya said increased surveillance and use of technology including the use of drones has been employed to detect illegal activities in the forest.

She said the training and deployment of the recruits is a major boost to conservation.

She called on Kenyans to embrace tree growing as the country targets to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

Governor Kihika urged the newly recruited rangers to assist the government in fulfilling its conservation agenda.