ELGEYO-MARAKWET: State accused of doing little to stop destruction of Kaptagat Forest

Former cabinet minister Nicholas Biwott has asked national and county governments to save Kaptagat Forest from destruction.

Mr Biwott said the forest, where rivers that supply water to Elgeyo-Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties originate, was under threat from sawmillers.

“Environment is an important component of development. Our water tower is being cleared and with that, rivers are drying up. How will we survive without water?” he asked on Friday in Flax, on the border of the two counties.

Mr Biwott, who said his tea processing factory would start operating next month, appealed to sawmillers to set up nurseries as a way of conserving the forest.

“This forest used to provide us with traditional medicine but that is no longer the case. We must do everything within our means to plant indigenous trees,” he added.

He said the national and county governments should involve forest dwellers in conservation.

Mr Jackson Bambo, the National Coordinator of Kenya Forest Working Group, also protested the destruction.

“The law states that only sawmillers with permits be allowed in the forest. We have noticed that indigenous trees are being used to produce charcoal and there appears to be no enforcement in conservation laws,” he said.

WATER SHORTAGE

Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company MD Cornelius Kipsoi expressed worry that the two counties would not have water in the next few years if the destruction continued.

“There are two projects which get water from this forest. We have requested for Sh6 to fence the forest and sensitise inhabitants on the importance of conservation,” he told the Nation by phone.

Leaders from the two counties have differed over calls to gazette Kaptagat Forest as one of Kenya’s water towers.

Governors Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo-Marakwet) are for the idea, which is opposed by other leaders and locals living next to the forest.

Last year, Mr Mandago said Eldoret Town heavily relied on the forest for water and decried its destruction.

“We have agreed with Elgeyo-Marakwet officials that Kaptagat Forest be declared a water tower,” he said during the launch of Kerio Valley Development Authority Strategic Plan, presided over by Environment CS Judy Wakhungu.

During the recent tour of the region by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, Mr Tolgos stressed the same.

“We would like you to declare Kaptagat Forest a water tower. Uasin Gishu residents risk going without water because the forest is being depleted and Torok Falls which supplies water to Kerio Valley residents is drying up,” the governor told Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto.

In November, residents staged demos, saying the calls to declare it a water tower were political and aimed at denying them income.