Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa questioned by senators over a Chinese firm engaged in rampant illegal loggings in the country.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa was taken to task on Wednesday by senators over a Chinese firm engaged in rampant illegal loggings in the country.
This, as the minister revealed that the government has only planted 783 million trees, with a survival rate of 85 percent, in three years since the launch of the 15 billion tree planting initiative.
The minister was hard-pressed to explain why the Chinese company, Yuan Chang Muye, had been given a carte blanche to fell trees despite the government’s renewed efforts to have a comprehensive forest cover in Kenya.
The development came as several senators cited ongoing illegal loggings in their counties, a practice they said is undermining President William Ruto’s efforts to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years.
Raising the alarm, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said there is a certain Chinese firm that is engaged in felling of trees in the Western Kenya belt, asking whether the government is aware of their presence and for how long they have been engaged in the tree logging.
Shipped to China
The legislator claimed that the foreign company is indiscriminately cutting down trees and packaging logs off to China instead of doing value addition to create employment to Kenyans.
He said the firm is currently engaged in the felling of eucalyptus trees (blue gum) in bulk in Homa Bay, Kisii and Migori Counties without encouraging replanting.
Logging in Kenya.
“Who do these Chinese represent and what is the purpose of them felling the trees indiscriminately? They are creating an environmental hazard as they leave all the offcuts as they move to the next site,” said Mr Onyonka.
'State intervention'
While admitting to the presence of the Chinese firm, CS Barasa said the government had stopped the logging.
“Yes, it was happening, but that has been stopped, so the Chinese firm harvesting is not going on currently,” said the CS.
Kirinyaga Senator James Murango also raised issues with suspicious tree harvesting in Kamuruana Hill Forest in Kirinyaga Central Constituency.
He asked the CS to state whether the harvesting was legal and whether public participation was undertaken prior to the harvesting.
“What measures is the Government implementing to assure the local community of environmental safety, given the risks of deforestation in the context of climate change and its potential impact on the ecosystem?” posed the senator.
Environmental experts say the destruction of this side of the Aberdare forest has affected climate and weather patterns in other parts of the country, including parts of the Rift Valley, Central, Nairobi, which now experience unpredictable rains.
Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa also cited ongoing illegal loggings in Karura and Thogoto Forests without replacement of the trees being felled.
“Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is saying they are cutting for domestic fuel, yet the local community is not benefiting from the woods, tree trunks but we see big trucks taking the logs away. Can she clarify what is happening?” posed Mr Thang’wa.
“KFS promised to plant trees in the forests between March and May, and we are now in April and there is no planting of trees in the two forests, but the illegal logging is continuing at an alarming rate.”
Ms Barasa denied any illegal logging going on at the forests and also refuted reports of tree harvesting going on at the Kamuruana Hill.
Kenya power faulted
But Kitui Senator Enock Wambua hard-pressed the minister to explain why Kenya Power has been allowed to indiscriminately cut trees across the country in the name of providing wayleaves for power lines.
“There needs to be a proper investigation carried out on the level of felling of trees by Kenya Power. The utility firm is doing serious damage to our forests simply to provide wayleaves for power lines. I witnessed the same thing in Kitui and Nakuru. Your ministry has got to do something about felling of trees; otherwise, Kenya Power will turn this country into a desert,” he said.
Ambitious Ruto plan
Meanwhile, the minister faced more questions from senators over the tree planting initiative with Laikipia Senator John Kinyua asking whether the project is just a public relations gimmick.
“Is the tree planting a PR exercise? The trees planted in Laikipia, none has survived. We are told trees are being planted but we don’t know which ones have survived,” he said.
President William Ruto leads a national tree planting drive at Kiambicho Forest on Karua Hill A, in Murang'a County on May 10, 2024.
Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana asked how many trees have been planted in the country since the launch of the programme.
“We were supposed to be planting 15 billion trees between 2022 and 2032 at 1.5 billion every year. Being in 2025, some 4.5 billion should have been planted. How many trees have we planted?” posed Mr Mungatana.
“How sure are we of the numbers being announced if we don’t have a data collection plan and is the minister keeping the data?”
In her response, the CS said the government has planted 783 million trees in the three years with an 85 percent survival rate.
“We are also monitoring how many are being cut down and the growth of the planted ones to ensure they are thriving and viable. Every month, every county has a report on trees planted against the target,” said Dr Barasa.
