Copyright © 2000 The Nation (Nairobi)
September 21, 2000
Nation Correspondent

Nairobi

Forestry officials in Mount Kenya have been placed on alert following sporadic fires. The fires are suspected to have been started by cultivators evicted from the forest last month.

Nyeri District Forestry Officer James Gitonga said the fires have been reported in Naro Moru, Kabaru and Gathiuru forests since early this month.

He said he suspected the more than 3,000 cultivators evicted from the forest last month wanted to destroy it because "they are unhappy with the move".

"So far, we have been able to contain the fires, but we are still apprehensive that they could spread and cause untold destruction," Mr. Gitonga said.

At the same time, Mr. Gitonga said there was a large number of illegal timber operators in the forest.

The Nation exposed the illegal loggers last week, prompting the Provincial Forestry Officer, Mr. Emilio Mugo, to order investigations.

Mr. Gitonga said the loggers were using mobile saws mounted on tractors, which made it difficult to track them down.

Further, he said, the logs are transferred by night to homes, making it difficult to determine whether they had been cut down in the forest.

The sawmillers have apparently intensified their activity to meet a shortfall in timber supply occasioned by a government ban on logging.

The worst-hit parts of the forest, he said, are Compartment Eight at Gathiuru and compartments One and 14 in Naro Moru.

Mr. Gitonga said that policing the forest was being hampered by a shortage of forest guards.

"To police the forest comprehensively, we need a workforce of not less than 280 guards in the district. But currently, only 75 are available," he said.

Mr. Gitonga reiterated the government's commitment in protecting the forest, adding that the logging ban remains in force. Error: Unable to read footer file.