Duale calls for vetting of commercial forest stocks buyers

Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Namgya Khampa plant trees to mark the 78th India's Independence Day Celebrations at City Park, Nairobi, on August 15, 2024. [File, Standard]

Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, has directed that allocation of commercial forest stocks across the country should follow the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.

Duale issued the directive at the Kenya Forestry College in Londiani, where he presided over a graduation ceremony of about 200 trainees.

He warned against further direct allocation of commercial forest stocks across the 150,000 hectare to buyers, saying this has led to corruption and malpractices in the forest sector.

“Commercial plantations are public resources which every applicant should be awarded following the right procedures. There is no more direct allocation of these resources without vetting,” he said.

The CS explained that vetting of buyers is aimed at weeding out brokers and cartels within the sector that has over the years been riddled with corruption.

The regulations are part of a raft of measures the government has put in place to streamline the sector, after a damning 2018 report that delved into logging activities within Kenya’s forests.

The report revealed that the sector had institutionalised corruption and the system is replete with deep-rooted corruption practices, lack of accountability and unethical behaviour.

As part of measures to ensure the achievement of national forest conservation goals, Duale reiterated that the ban on the export of raw wood veneers, is still active. He also cited environmental concerns and exploitative nature of the veneer industry.

The CS warned that illegal forest activities risk undermining Kenya's ambitious agenda of restoring landscapes and ecosystems.

He said the government will use all powers at its disposal to protect forest resources even as it scales up restoration efforts.

The government embarked on plans to plant 15 billion trees to increase the forest cover to 30 per cent in the next ten years.

"Together, we aim to grow 15 billion trees over the next decade and restore over 10.6 million hectares of degraded lands to productivity. This is a collective responsibility and I implore every Kenyan to play their part," the CS said.

Duale asked the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to be firm in the enforcement of forest protection laws and policies.

He urged Community Forest Associations (CFAs) to work closely with KFS, saying, as host communities, they have a key role in sustainable forest management.
He, however, said user rights granted to CFAs must not be abused.

Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko revealed that the 197 trainees who graduated during the ceremony, will be absorbed into the forest sector as part of boosting forest security and safeguarding Kenya's forests.

"Absorbing these graduates will help us in boosting security of the forests across the country. The team will also be critical towards achievement of the 15 billion tree target," he said.
[e-mail]