Environment CS Keriako Tobiko has denied claims that he had a central role to play in changes effected at the Kenya Forest Service.
The changes were by board members led by chair Peter Kinyua, he said on Monday, but added that he was consulted.
“Let me confirm that it is not the CS who sends senior management
home. It
is the board ... that is not within the mandate of the CS but of course I was consulted," he said.
He addressed the press on Monday night after receiving the interim report of the task force investigating forest destruction.
On March 12, KFS announced key management changes geared at reviving the organisation and ensuring stricter conservation of forests.
Kinyua announced on that day that the board had appointed Monica Kalenda as the acting Chief Forest Conservator.
Kalenda replaced Emilio Mugo who stepped aside pending investigations.
Victor Kobia and
Esther Keige were also suspended.
Mugo has appeared before the task force that is looking into challenges the forestry sector is facing.
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Over the weekend, two MPs raised concerns about the changes at the service saying they were flawed.
Environment committee chair
Kareke Mbiuki
said the matter was handled wrongly and that the
stakeholders his team engaged last week and raised concerns about tribalism at the ministry and its agencies.
"The stakeholders are reading between the lines because the CS, PS and Nema chairperson are all from one region,” he said.
Kipkelion West
MP Hillary Koskey echoed Mbiuki's sentiments
saying the real culprits ought to have been kicked out of the service.
Koskey said tribalism and hidden interests were among the reasons the abrupt changes were effected.
"We are seeing tribal alignments taking place," he said, adding Tobiko was misled.
"Tobiko knows the law as he has been DPP. However, he has chosen to blatantly
overlook the legal process of punishing
civil servants, leaving a lot to be desired."
Tobiko dismissed the allegations.
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