The Kenya Forest Service in collaboration with stakeholders has commenced the construction of staff houses in different stations within the Nakuru County.
KFS Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, said the housing project will be done in Molo, Bararget, Elburgon and the regional headquarters in Nakuru City.
He said the project which is aimed at providing dignified shelter for KFS personnel, among them hundreds of forests rangers, would be rolled out to all forest stations countrywide.
He revealed that there was need for more housing units after the government through President William Ruto helped the Service recruit 3,000 forest rangers and other personnel.
"The recruitment was a great move aimed at ensuring that Kenya achieves its target of planting and growing 15 billion trees by 2032, we need more houses because KFS did not have these number of staff before," he said.
Speaking in Nakuru during the launch, Lemarkoko, who had earlier toured parts of Mau Forest Complex, said 3,000 new staff members was a big number that was coming into an organisation that has been having lesser staff.
“The increase in personnel presented a challenge in terms of housing particularly with forest rangers some of whom are living in tents,” said the chief conservator.
Lemarkoko observed that rangers were staying in tents which is not right adding that KFS had been working with stakeholders to see how best to tackle the issue and provide housing within the shortest time possible.
“That is a very noble gesture by our stakeholders, they have supported us and we can now house at least 30 rangers arising from that cooperation,” he said.
Lemarkoko called upon other stakeholders to join and support the service towards making sure that rangers do not have to sleep in tents even when it is raining.
“The 30 housing units are a good start and we need to construct more facilities and provide shelter for the staff,” he said.
