By Vincent Munga.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya was on Thursday morning at the Kenya Forest Service headquarters to effect the immediate dismissal order of 23 managers and rangers accused of abetting and conniving with criminals in illegal logging.
The order given by President William Ruto during the pass-out parade of 2,664 forest rangers at the National Youth Service barracks in Gilgil, Nakuru County affects the officers whose cases have been determined.
“We are here today to ensure the Chief Conservator has effected the immediate dismissal of 23 forest officers. There are other active cases that are ongoing and appropriate action will be taken when the right time comes,” CS Tuya said.
The CS made the statement while flanked by her two PS’s, Eng. Festus Ng’eno who holds the Environment and Climate Change docket and his counterpart Mugambi Gitonga who oversees the state department of forestry docket.
Also at the conference was the Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko, some board members and senior forest officers.
The Chairman KFS board, Job Chirchir who attended the CS’s closed door meeting failed to appear at the press briefing and was seen driving out immediately after the meeting, leaving other members to join the CS at the podium.
CS Tuya who failed to introduce the senior officials at the function, also never explained the Chairman’s absence as she went ahead to read her statement.
In her remarks, the CS said some of the officers have been harassed by the web of illegal loggers and asked citizens to help the government curb the vice by reporting any suspected illegal activity to a toll free number, 0800724570 being manned 24 hours.
According to Tuya, the Mau forest conservancy is the hotspot of illegal logging activities in the country.
The CS also warned saw millers that if found conniving with the KFS officers in illegal activities, their companies shall be blacklisted from doing business with the government.
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