Stop Excision of Forests, Narok Leaders Tell Govt
Copyright 2001 The East African Standard (Nairobi)
November 19, 2001
Narok politicians and church leaders want the Government to act and stop the ongoing excision of forests in the district.
They noted that the destruction of forests and water catchment areas to pave way for human settlement was unfortunate and spells doom for future generations.
At a news conference yesterday, the leaders led by councillors Shadrack Rotiken and Kelena ole Nchoe, said there was wanton destruction of indigenous forests in Narok especially in areas bordering group ranches.
The warned that if the government does nothing about the forest destruction, people will invade them because they fear they will be cleared and land allocated to outsiders.
Meanwhile, members of Ogiek community in Narok yesterday asked the government to give them priority in settlement in their degazzeted forests.
Led by Charles Sena, they claimed that Mau has been their ancestral land and giving the forest land to outsiders will spell doom for the survival of the community. "We lost Likia and Tinet forests in Nakuru District to a favoured community.
Elsewhere, a tourist retreat destination in Nyeri has initiated a project to reclaim forests within Mt Kenya region which have been decimated by poachers.
Serena Mountain Lodge situated deep in the Mt Kenya forest has so far planted over 60,000 seedlings in a 40-hectare parcel of land inside the destroyed Hombe Forest.
Also, Western PC, Mr Peter Kiilu, yesterday warned that government officers in Mt Elgon District engaged in illegal logging activities will be sacked.
Kiilu said senior government officers in the area were colluding with loggers to destroy Mt Elgon Forest. He said some even use government vehicles to ferry Elgon Teak timber to various parts of the country. The PC made the remarks while presiding over a fund raising in aid of Kaptola Primary School.