The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in a statement issued on Sunday, July 16, explained the viral video that circulated online showing a massive cutting down of trees, barely a fortnight after the government lifted the logging ban.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta imposed in 2018 a logging ban, a move that was expected to increase Kenya’s forest cover to at least 10 percent, curb illegal logging and protect the country’s water towers.
Videos of massive forest cutting emerged over the weekend, leaving many Kenyans to question the motive behind the lifting of the 6-year moratorium.
KFS on Sunday assured members of the public that the video did not indicate uncontrolled destruction of the country’s forest cover and that the agency was just harvesting overgrown trees.
Additionally, the government body noted that contrary to reports, the trees were being cut in a plantation in Baringo County and not Kakamega Forest as it had been alleged.
“The images circulating online are an ongoing operation at a Pinus plantation in Chemususu Forest.
“The misreporting is malicious and aimed at distorting facts in order to provoke unsuspecting citizens and high-ranking personalities, some of whom have shown interest in the conservation of Kakamega forest,” a statement from KFS read in part.
The video raised concerns that Kenya was embarking on unregulated logging which could lead to the destruction of forests.
KFS also explained that the trees are exotic pine species and not indigenous as it had been alleged by a section of Kenyans on social media including leaders.
“Let’s pray for Kakamega forest,” Kakamega Deputy Governor posted on his social media pages on Sunday, attaching the videos.
KFS however, has explained that the exercise is being done in a controlled and professional manner.
“This entails felling, skidding, stacking and loading of round logs onto trucks for transportation to the sawmill industry for conversion into desired end products,” KFS explained.
President Ruto while lifting the ban on Sunday, June 2, instructed that only mature trees would be cut.
The President further revealed that the trees which would be cut following the lifting of the ban would be replaced by 15 billion trees his administration is planning to plant in the next ten years.
