Sh3bn lost as trees rot in forests, claim loggers

The Government has lost more than Sh3 billion since it banned logging in State forests in 1999 and forced more than 300 sawmills to close.

The chairman of the Timber Manufacturers Association, Mr Samuel Gitonga, told the Nation on Tuesday that cypress trees planted 35 years ago had been falling and rotting in many forests as only three timber firms had been allowed to harvest trees in Government forests since 1999.

Mr Gitonga said old plantations had been going to waste in the larger Nakuru District.

“Trees have also been rotting in Koibatek, Kericho and Uasin Gishu districts since the Government imposed the ban, which was not well thought out, considering that the lost plantations were established with a loan from the World Bank,” Mr Gitonga said.

He said that the Government had mature trees worth about Sh20 billion. The sawmills that were closed down had 120,000 employees but the three firms that have been harvesting trees have about 500 employees, he said.

Abrupt closure

He said that the abrupt closure of the sawmills led to the economic death of small towns such as Elburgon, Njoro, Molo and Maji Mazuri.

The Timber Manufacturers official said the building industry was currently relying on timber imported from Tanzania, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.