The destruction of environment at Ololua Forest in Ngong has stopped, the Kenya Forest Service said yesterday.
Acting Chief Conservator for Forest Monica Kalenda blamed the illegal activity on HydroMasters for subcontracting a licence to extract quarry dust to a third party.
But HydroMasters contractor George Melonye said they were not to blame.
Kalenda said a lorry belonging to Communications Construction Company Limited East Africa was impounded for illegal transportation of materials.
This forced KFS to suspend HydroMasters' licence.
Kalenda said on Tuesday she was dismayed that roads had been expanded and the environment destroyed.
In February last year, the government banned logging in all public and community forests. The ban has been extended to November 24, this year.
"The issue of expanding the road during the moratorium is double-edged. Even my officers who allowed the expansion will have to answer," Kalenda said.
KFS board has suspended three senior officials as investigations on the illegal activities at Ololua Forest continue. They are Nairobi head of conservancy Samuel Ihure, Kajiado ecosystem conservator Francis Mathinji and forester in charge of Ololua Phillip Kosgei.
The Ololua Forest block covers 681 hectares (1,682.7 acres).
Huge excavations have been made in the area.
Kalenda said the damage by the company is "massive and it should have been reported to KFS."
She said,"Any destruction of the environment must be reported, including cutting of trees and grass. We have not received such a report from the licensee." She warned that action will be taken against those involved in destroying the environment and transferring the licence without authority from KFS.
In August 2014, KFS granted the special user licence to Kwality Rural Urban Environment Limited.
In a letter dated June 20, 2017, the company requested KFS to allow it to assign its rights under the licence to HydroMasters Drilling Company Limited. The KFS approved.
Under the licence, HydroMasters was to harvest hardcore and prepare a restoration plan that has to be approved by the forest service.
The quarry, covering 7.554 hectares (18.67 acres), was to be rehabilitated for five years. The licensee fee for quarrying was Sh75,000.
An annual forest land rent was charged at the gazetted rate of Sh20,000 per acre. The licence holder was to pay Sh373,400 annually.
One of the conditions of the licence was that it was not transferable. It may, however, be assigned only with written consent of KFS.
The licensee was obliged to deposit Sh1 million with KFS as security.
