The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has addressed a viral video, showing people cutting down trees and loading them on a lorry.
Initial reports indicated that the activity took place in Kakamega forest.
“The misreporting is malicious and aimed at distorting facts in order to provoke unsuspecting citizens & high-ranking personalities, some of whom have shown interest in the conservation of Kakamega forest,” KFS has clarified.
KFS argued that the logging took place at a pinus plantation in Chemususu Forest, in Bariongo County.
“The operation is in Tinet block, Chemususu forest & not in Kakamega,” it said.
It added that the logging was done on over-matured exotic pine trees, which will be used to manufacture desired timber products.
The viral video had earlier caused mixed reactions from Kenyans who perceived the action as careless and detrimental to the environment.
Others claimed that the recent lift on the logging ban by President William Ruto has made millers take advantage of the situation to excessively cut down trees for selfish gain.
“Nooooo! Stop this reckless destruction of forests! These heartless loggers won’t replace the forests they are destroying by planting even a single seedling!” @MigunaMiguna complained about the video.
