Sawmillers lost Sh100m in standoff with county

Sawmillers lost more than Sh100 million during a standoff with the county government, which was opposed to harvesting of mature trees from Nandi Central Forest.

The timber traders had been issued with a licence by the Kenya Forest Service to harvest mature trees but the county government and Friends of Nandi Environment, an NGO, opposed this.

Lands Executive Secretary John Chumo and the chairman of the NGO, Mr Daniel Yator, accused the sawmillers of engaging in wanton destruction of forests in the region.

However, the conflict has since been resolved after the national government intervened. The timber dealers, who dismissed the claims against them, have been allowed to harvest mature trees.

This comes after County Commissioner Matilda Sakwa chaired a crisis meeting attended by the sawmillers, county government officials and other stakeholders.

HARVEST MATURE TREES

“The standoff involving sawmillers, the county government, forest service and the local people has been solved. Sawmillers are now allowed to harvest mature trees according to the licence,” said Mrs Sakwa.

Mrs Sakwa said forests were a source of livelihood for thousands of families, who harvested mature trees to allow for planting of young ones.

The official urged forest stakeholders to work together. She warned that the government would not allow conflicts to interfere with forest operations.

The more than 40 sawmillers led by their chairman of Nandi County Association.

The chairman of the more than 40 sawmillers, Mr Nicolas Yagan, and Secretary David Ruto praised the move to allow them to harvest trees they had paid for.

The sawmillers said more than 5,000 youth had lost jobs and income due to the standoff, which saw tree harvesting being suspended since February.