President William Ruto has expressed concern about the integrity and professionalism of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers, emphasizing the importance of a thorough clean-up to remove corrupt, incompetent, and complicit officers.
The Head of State was speaking on Wednesday, October 11, when he presided over the passing-out parade of 2,664 newly recruited Forest Rangers in Gilgil.
“Twenty-three forest managers and rangers have so far been found, and from tomorrow I do not want them to be on government payroll. These are people who are saboteurs,” he said in an address to the rangers and their families at the National Youth Service in Gilgil Barracks.
“The tragedy that has been the Kenya forest conversation must come to an end,”
He further demanded the prosecution of the corrupt officials through the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
The president underlined his Kenya Kwanza administration’s dedication to environmental protection and addressing climate change.
He further expressed confidence in the rigorous training received by the recruits and conveyed high expectations for their role in safeguarding Kenya’s forests.
“There are many who have let us down. The reason why I made the decision to recruit the largest ever group of ranger trainees is because the matter of climate change is critical and poses an existential crisis,” he said.
In addition, he noted that the challenges faced in protecting forests are due to the shortage of forest ranger officers.
He stated that the newly recruited rangers would play a pivotal role in preserving Kenya’s forests and combating climate change.
“You are expected to be drivers of our National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme and lead our organizations, communities and, especially, the youth, in making sure that our ambition to grow 15 billion trees by 2032 is actualised on time,” he added.
In addition, he recognized the catastrophic effects of extreme weather, such as protracted droughts and flooding, which cause starvation and the extinction of both livestock and fauna.
He attributed the vulnerabilities to harmful human activities such as deforestation, tree clearance, and unsustainable land use practices.
In addition, the President disclosed plans to use forest resources to support economic growth by giving young people jobs in carpentry and furniture making.
He expressed his displeasure at having to import furniture when Kenya could produce it locally.
“In this year’s financial budget, we’ve placed taxes on those who want to import furniture to Kenya when we have people who can make furniture,” he remarked.
Ruto also threatened businesses and individuals engaged in illicit logging with severe consequences, vowing to take decisive action against those who seek to profit from environmental damage.
Earlier this year, he lifted a nearly six-year ban on logging, intending to stimulate employment and support sectors reliant on forest products.
The ban, imposed in 2018, was aimed at curbing illegal logging and increasing Kenya’s forest cover to 10 percent.
