Agency set to restore forest after evictions from 16,000 hectares
A section of Embobut Forest in Elgeyo-Marakwet County. Some 16,000 hectares of forest land have been recovered after evictions. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- The settlers were ejected after they were compensated by the government. Last year, 2,874 families occupying forest land were paid Sh400,000 each to buy alternative plots.
- KFS is conducting workshops with communities living around forests in the North Rift to educate them on carbon financing, he added.
Some 16,000 hectares of forest land have been recovered following evictions in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
Kenya Forest Service’s North Rift region Conservator Solomon Mibey said surveillance officers had been sent to Embobut Forest to ensure no one returned to the water tower.
The move was part of efforts to restore the forest, which had been massively degraded, he said.
The settlers were ejected after they were compensated by the government. Last year, 2,874 families occupying forest land were paid Sh400,000 each to buy alternative plots.
Mr Mibey said the agency would move to other forests which are still home to various communities in its drive to save the water towers.
He spoke to journalists in Eldoret during a stakeholders’ workshop.
The official said the agency was committed to reaching out to everyone on the need to conserve the environment.
CARBON FINANCING
KFS is conducting workshops with communities living around forests in the North Rift to educate them on carbon financing, he added.
“The Kenya Forest Service is determined to protect the country’s indigenous forests,” said Mr Mibey.
At the same time, Mr Mibey said all county governments should be engaged to ensure residents benefit from forests and other natural resources.
