Deputy President William Ruto has imposed
a 90-day moratorium
on timber harvesting in all public and community forests.
Ruto directed the Environment ministry
and all other relevant authorities to jointly take prompt and decisive actions to enforce the order.
"This is to allow reassessment and rationalisation of the entire forest sector in Kenya," he said in a statement to newsrooms on Saturday.
"The ministry will immediately constitute a task force and prepare a report
on the forest sector
within 14 days, and propose appropriate remedial measures."
The DP's remarks come as Kenya
faces an unprecedented and acute water crisis running into three years, with occasioned low water levels in rivers and streams.
"Deforestation, degradation and encroachment of water towers and other catchment areas, coupled with uncontrolled human activities including wanton logging, have threatened and undermined our country’s capability to ensure food security," Ruto noted.
The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company is pegging its hopes on the April long rains.
Acting MD Nahashon Muguna said Thika dam’s storage stood at 34 million cubic metres, representing 49 per cent of its full capacity.
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Thika dam has a storage capacity of 70,000,000 cubic metres at full storage level of 2,041 metres above sea level and a depth average of 65m. The dam produces 430,000 cubic metres of water a day, which is about 84 per cent of water supply to Nairobi residents.
Water rationing affects informal settlements, exposing many to threats such as typhoid, cholera and other diseases as a result of poor sanitation. However, Muguna said his company will strive to ensure slums receive adequate water to avoid such outbreaks.
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The city depends on supply from five water sources under the facilitation of the Athi Water Services Board.
Sasumua dam supplies 52,800 cubic metres per day, Kikuyu Springs supplies ( 4,000 cubic metres), Ruiru dam ( 22,800 cubic metres), Ngethu Water Works ( 379,200 cubic metres) and the Thika Dam’s 91,200 cubic metres.
Works on the Northern Water Collector Tunnel project in Murang’a County are ongoing.