- The tough-talking CS toured Kenya Forest Service headquarters hours after President William Ruto spoke.
- Tuya said they went to KFS to send a strong warning to both the board of directors and the management.
Image: PCS
Environment CS Soipan Tuya has announced the purge against illegal loggers will proceed as planned, reiterating that there will be no sacred cows.
The tough talking CS toured Kenya Forest Service headquarters hours after President William Ruto announced that the state will not sit and watch as country’s precious resources are plundered.
“We have come to witness the Chief Conservator of Forests issue show case letters and taking of disciplinary steps for forest officers who have been under investigation over the past months following intelligence reports,” Tuya said.
Tuya was accompanied to KFS by Forestry PS Gitonga Mugambi and his Climate Change counterpart Festus Ng’eno.
Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko and board members led by Job Chirchir were present.
Tuya said they went to KFS to send a strong warning to both the board of directors and the management that there will be no sacred cows.
“Anyone found abetting, aiding or conniving to deplete our forest resources will face the full force of the law. As a ministry, we are implementing the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme: Towards the Growing of 15 Billion Trees,” she said.
Tuya said plans are underway to grow 500 million trees by Christmas, taking advantage of short rains.
On Wednesday, President Ruto presided over the pass out parade of 2,664 forest rangers at the National Youth Service in Gilgil.
Ruto pointed to reports of rampant illegal logging, encroachment and other related illegal activities, some of which he stated are being aided and abetted by the KFS management and staff.
"I have instructed the Kenya Forest Service board that all those engaged in corruption be fired and be taken to court. We have already found 23 forest managers and rangers," Ruto said.
"Those who have led to the destruction of forests be removed from the government. From tomorrow I do not want them to be in government payroll. These are people who are saboteurs."
Ruto also directed that the officials be taken to court over their illegal dealings.
Kiptunga forest station, Baraget, Logoman, Sururu, and Molo are some of the stations that have been implicated in Nakuru county.
In Kericho, Sorget forest station, Tendeno, Makutano and Kericho forest station are reported to have been involved.
In Nyandarua, North Kinangop and Geta forest stations have been linked to illegalities.
Foresters, rangers and management have been implicated.
The 23 forest officers and rangers have been under probe and have been dismissed over complicity in forest destruction, corruption, dereliction of duty and incompetence.
CS Tuya said the 23 individuals are those whose investigations have been completed and have been found culpable for gross misconduct.
“There are other officers who are under investigations and we are going to take stern action,” she warned.
Sources within KFS have revealed that some members of the board are also in logging business, creating conflict of interest.
“The investigations are ongoing and it does not matter which level you are in, whether board member, senior management, or a junior staff, action will be taken,” Tuya said.
Sources said a senior official within the Mau conservancy has also been implicated but no action taken.
“We have saw millers and they are on the radar and investigations are ongoing,” Tuya said.
She said illegal activities are rampant in Mau forest.
“We have 10 conservancies across the country but Mau Forest Conservancy which covers 21 blocks is one such notorious conservancy which covers a wide range,” she said.
She said those aggrieved are free to pursue the recourse that they feel they are entitled to.
The CS urged members of the public to continue giving the state information and intelligence on illegal activities, saying they will act.
The government unveiled 0800724570 as the 24-hour toll free telephone number for reporting illegal forest activities including logging and charcoal burning.
The number is manned 24 hours and a response will be given by the hour each time a report is made.
These responses will be for all gazetted forests.
Tuya said the needs of the timber industry must be met sustainably.
She said forest laws will also be looked into with a view of addressing challenges brought about by destructive species such as eucalyptus.