KFS Director Alex Lemarkoko announced the directive on Wednesday during a public forum at Madogo trading centre, saying it takes effect immediately.
“I have instructed our officers not to disturb or harass wananchi. For now, you are free to specifically cut down the Mathenge tree until a technical team is on the ground to guide us on the way forward,” Lemarkoko told residents.
“As government officials, we are here to serve you well. Harassment is not part of our work. But you must also respect and operate within the law.”
The decision follows growing discontent among locals, who say KFS officers have been using a 2012 gazette notice to justify arrests and confiscations.
The notice, signed by then Forestry and Wildlife Minister Dr. Noah Wekesa, declared Bangale Forest—covering over 119,000 hectares—a protected area.
Bura MP Yakub Adow said the gazette notice has been the community’s biggest challenge, accusing forest officers of ignoring the residents’ efforts to curb the spread of Prosopis juliflora, commonly known as Mathenge.
“It is unfortunate that despite my constituents’ efforts to eliminate Mathenge, they have been subjected to harassment, arrests, confiscation of tools, and unjustified fines,” Adow said.
He urged Lemarkoko to ensure the suspension is enforced, warning that similar directives in the past have been disregarded.
Local leaders and residents welcomed the announcement, but called for a permanent solution.
Former Madogo MCA Abdi Hargamso said many depend on charcoal burning for survival.
“Our people live from hand to mouth. Removing Mathenge aligns with county and national efforts to eradicate this invasive species,” he said.
Resident Fatuma Gilasi echoed the sentiment, saying the activity not only provides income but also helps control the spread of a tree that has devastated farmland, pasture, and the environment.
“We are not seeking to destroy Kenya’s forests. On the contrary, we want to reclaim our land from an invasive tree that has damaged livelihoods, health, and the environment,” she said.
The Mathenge tree was introduced to Kenya in the 1970s to combat desertification, provide firewood, shade, and prevent soil erosion. But it has since spread aggressively, choking farmlands, reducing grazing areas, and posing security risks as criminals hide in its dense thickets.
Former Environment CS Aden Duale has previously warned about its dangers, saying the shrub has caused untold suffering for communities and livestock for over four decades.
“Above all, it’s a big threat to climate change,” he said in February, promising to push for Cabinet action to address the problem.
For now, Bangale residents have been given a reprieve—but they are pressing for the government to scrap the gazette notice entirely to prevent the return of what they describe as years of intimidation in the name of forest protection.
