By Richard Kabaraji
Locals of Trans Nzoia county have been warned over the wanton destruction of forests, the latest to be hit being Kabolet forest which sits in Cherengany hills – one of the two water towers in the county.
Speaking during the launch of a tree planting exercise, Principal Secretary in charge of Climate Change and Forestry, Gitonga Mugambi said he was shocked at the rate at which locals were destroying forests instead of taking care of the vital natural resources due to numerous advantages.
“I am angered by the way you locals are encroaching forest in this area. We are told that there are three components of a forest which are planting a tree, maintaining a tree and destroying trees. As we have been told, let’s forget about destroying and encroaching into the forest and instead concentrate on forest maintenance for a better future,” the PS said.
He further said no one would be spared in the war against illegal loggers as the government was aspiring to plant more than 15 billion trees across the country.
The PS directed the Kenya Forest Service officers to deal decisively with anyone found inside the gazetted forest without prior permission.
“Anybody who will be found engaging in unlawful activities inside our forests will be arrested. Destroying or encroaching in government forests will be dealt with and we will use them as an example to others who intend to destroy our natural heritage,” the Forestry PS said.
Indigenous trees
Additionally, Gitonga said the Ministry will partner with county governments to achieve the tree planting program. He noted that counties were pivotal in the program.
“These forests are situated in counties and it is only if we partner with them in the planting and maintenance that we will achieve the 15 billion goal.”
On his part, Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko urged Kenyans to stop planting crops in areas where it has been planted with indigenous trees. He said the law does not allow that.
”You are only allowed to plant crops where there are commercial forests, not indigenous ones so let’s desist from destroying our indigenous tree,” Lemarkoko said.
Further, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya urged the locals to be vigilant and take part in the tree-planting exercise to make the county green again.
“Let’s be vigilant and tackle this global warming phenomena by planting trees rather than destroying the forests and not planting trees in our farms because we have forests. Climate change is really catching up with us and soon we may start experiencing the change in our surroundings,” Natembeya said.
“Let’s take care of our forest in a bid to safeguard the two towers among the five across the country for the posterity of this and future generations as our children will ask us what we did to save both the Mount Elgon and Cherengany water towers and we will not have answers for them,” he added.
