This archive report was first published on 4 June 2020.
On June 4, 2020, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) law enforcement officers launched a sting operation in the North Rift region, Baringo, and Laikipia counties to curb the rising trend of illegal charcoal trade.
During the operation, four lorries were impounded, including one with 77 bags of charcoal concealed by Doum palm brooms, another with 200 red cedar and 100 rosewood timber, and two others with 35 and 28 bags of charcoal respectively.
Four suspects were arrested and are aiding with further investigations. The operation comes a few days after another KFS operation along Marigat-Nakuru Road impounded a lorry carrying vegetables from Baringo to Nakuru while concealing 102 bags of charcoal underneath the perishable food items.
The suspect carrying 102 bags of charcoal was fined Sh50,000 in a court of law, while the one with 35 bags was fined Sh30,000, and the one with 28 bags was fined Sh20,000. The Kabarnet court also ordered the forfeiture of all the impounded charcoal to KFS.
The Chief Conservator of Forests Julius Kamau has appreciated members of the public who share tip-offs leading to arrests of forest illegalities and called upon all Kenyans to take it upon themselves to stop illegal charcoal burning and transportation within their environs.
He noted that local communities have the potential to eradicate irresponsible exploitation of forest resources on public or community lands for the greater good of their environment.
The operations will be intensified to ensure the vice is stopped at the point of origin, and KFS officers in the field have been directed to enhance collaboration with other security organs of government, county government administrations, as well as local communities, and other stakeholders to jointly ensure critical forest resources are safeguarded.
