Four Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers attached to Mbooni conservancy, Makueni County have been interdicted for allegedly abetting and aiding illegal logging and charcoal burning in Kivale Forest.
The officers Ecosystems Conservator Joseph Wakianga, the Chief Inspector James Yatich, the forester John Mboyanai and ranger Aron Ngachii will face disciplinary action together with their accomplices.
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry Keriako Tobiko has sent a stern warning to KFS officers ,Regional and County Commissioners and local administrators that they risk losing their jobs if they will not stop forest destruction under their jurisdiction.
“I wonder who has the audacity and guts to defying Presidential directives, to protect forests “ the CS posed.
He said that the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) will be brought on board to investigate and arrest the illegal loggers.
The CS authorized KFS and the Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA) to come up with a restoration program of Kivale forest and other forest blocks in Makueni County in the next two weeks. He also directed the Kenya Forest Service to ensure that an operational Community Forest Association for the Mbooni conservancy is constituted in the next 30 days.
The CS made the remarks today at Kivale Forest after a fact finding mission following public outcry from local leaders and residents that illegal logging and charcoal burning was taking place in the forest despite the existing ban.
He accompanied by the Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior, who supported formation the Community Forest Association and called on the protection of whistle blowers who were giving crucial information on destruction of the forest .
He thanked CS Tobiko for the personal intervention on the forest saying that cartels were wrecking havoc in community forests. Present during the function were, the KFS chairman Peter Kinyua, the KWTA chairman Dr.
Julius Malombe, the Chief Conservator of Forests Julius Kamau, the Mbooni Member of Parliament Erastus Kivasu, makueni Member of Parliament Daniel Maanzo, the Mbooni West Deputy County Commissioner John Kibe Maguta and the Makueni County Assembly majority Leader Kyalo Mumo among others.
