CS Tuya Targets More Officials Hours After Ruto Sacking Order

Environment Cabinet Secretary, Soipan Tuya has revealed that the government will catch up with more corrupt officers at the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) amidst investigations opened hours after President William Ruto ordered the termination of 23 employees.

Speaking at a press briefing held at KFS Headquarters, off Kiambu Road, Tuya confirmed that the 23 KFS officers were fired following corruption allegations and purportedly collaborating with illegal loggers.

She added that more officers will be dismissed in the coming days should the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) link them to illegal logging of trees.

"We are here to ensure that the KFS dismiss the 23 forest officers. We send a strong warning to all KFS officers including the board of directors that there will be no sacred cows," she cautioned.

"In addition to the 23, we have additional investigations going on and we shall be rolling out the action to let Kenya know what we are undertaking."

The Ministry is accelerating forest sector reforms to stamp out illegalities that compromise Kenya's critical ecosystems including encroachment, illegal logging and charcoal burning.

As investigations intensify to net more perpetrators, including illegal timber merchants who collude with KFS officials to destroy our country's invaluable forests, Kenyans are encouraged to continue reporting forest crimes through the Ministry's toll-free number, 0800724570.

Tuya was accompanied in the presser by Principal Secretaries Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry) and Eng Festus K Ng'eno (Environment and Climate Change) when she updated the country on measures the Ministry is taking to streamline the management of Kenya's forestry sector.

"In this short rain period, we have set out a national target of 500 million trees by Christmas. We are hoping that the rains will come in a consistent as we go towards realising this target," she stated with regards to the target of 15 billion trees by 2032, adding that the newly graduated 2,664 forest rangers who graduated from the KFS school on Wednesday, October 11 would help achieve the target.

Speaking during the pass-out of KFS rangers recruits in Gilgil, Nakuru County, President Ruto accused the 23 officers of engaging in corrupt acts leading to the destruction of forests across the country, thus ordering their removal from the government payroll.

"Through collaboration with the Ministry involved and KFS, it was found that 23 KFS employees were lagging behind in their work, others involved in corruption and others aiding in the destruction of forests in Kenya," Ruto disclosed.

"I have instructed KFS that all those who have been found engaging in corruption or destroying our forests should be fired and taken to court."

President Ruto further declared that the Ministry of Environment under CS Soipan Tuya should carry out reforms in the agency to ensure that those sabotaging environmental conservation and climate change efforts in the country are dealt with.

"From tomorrow, I don't want them in government payroll. These are people who are saboteurs and who are encouraging the destruction of the environment," he said.

It was unclear whether further action was taken against the 23 who were under investigation, including their arrest.