Govt Speaks On Video Of Mass Cut-Down Of Trees

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) on Sunday, July 16 issued a clarification on a viral video showing trees being cut down en masse, barely two weeks after the government lifted its ban on logging.

The ban was imposed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in a move that was aimed at increasing forest cover to at least 10 per cent as well as curb illegal logging and safeguard the country’s water towers.

A video emerged showing massive forest cutting during the weekend, prompting many Kenyans to question the motive of scrapping the 5-year logging ban.

However, KFS went on to clarify to members of the public that the video did not show the uncontrolled destruction of the country’s forests but rather the harvesting of overgrown trees.

A screengrab of a bulldozer clearing a forest in Chemususu Forest, Baringo County. /KENYA FOREST SERVICE

"Kenya Forest Service wishes to make a clarification on a lorry shown in this post which has been circulating online. Contrary to allegations, the images were captured in an ongoing operation at a pinus plantation in Chemususu Forest, Baringo County & not Kakamega forest.

"The misreporting is malicious and aimed at distorting  facts in order to  provoke unsuspecting citizens & high-ranking personalities, some of whom have shown interest in the conservation of Kakamega forest," stated KFS in part.

The video sparked concerns that Kenya was undertaking an uncontrolled logging exercise which could lead to the destruction of forests across the country.

Contrary to claims by a section of Kenyans including political leaders that the trees were indigenous, KFS explained that the trees were exotic pine species which had over-matured and had to be harvested.

"KFS would like to confirm that the activity captured in these social media post depict ongoing harvesting of over-mature exotic pine species in a forest plantation. This entails felling, skidding, stacking and loading of round logs onto trucks for transportation to the sawmill industry for conversion into desired end products. 

"The operation is in Tinet block, Chemususu forest & not in Kakamega. The public is advised to seek clarification from the nearest KFS offices in all Counties to avoid misinformation," added KFS.

Speaking after attending a church service at St Marys Catholic Church in Molo, Nakuru County on Sunday, July 2, President William Ruto revealed that the decision to scrap the ban was motivated by the need to open up the economies of areas that depend on forest products.

"Trees are decaying in the forest and people are struggling to get timber. Do you see the foolishness?

"We have lifted the ban so that we can harvest mature trees. Whoever imports furniture will be taxed because we want all that to be made in the country," he stated.

President William Ruto waters a seedling in Molo, Nakuru County on July 2, 2023. /PCS