Charcoal traders complain of massive job losses

Charcoal traders in Kilifi County have said more than 300,000 people have been rendered jobless after the forest agency banned the issuance of permits for transportation of charcoal and other tree products.

Mr Rodgers Mwabaya, Magarini Charcoal Producers Association secretary general, said they are counting losses worth millions of shillings after the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) stopped them from transporting about 10,000 bags of charcoal at their disposal.

Mr Mwabaya said more than 300,000 residents who burn charcoal, pack and transport them to markets in Nairobi have lost their jobs.

Last Thursday, KFS acting chief conservator Monica Kalenda suspended three senior KFS officers and issuance of licences for transporting forest products.

PARTICIPATION

Ms Kalenda said the action will help save Dakatcha Woodland forest that is on the verge of extinction.

Ms Kalenda issued the ban that will be followed by a thorough operation to flush out and arrest people cutting down trees in the indigenous forest.

But Mr Mwabaya denied allegations of destroying the forest.

"The association was legally established. After carrying out environment assessment tests, we planted trees to improve the forest cover and we have been paying our taxes through the KFS," he said, adding that the KFS should involve the community so that conservation efforts may succeed.

TREE PLANTING

Mr Morris Mangi, the Adu Ranch Cooperative Society chairman, said 45,000 children are unable to go school for lack of food and fees.

"Most residents are poor and depend on charcoal burning to earn a living and the ban has affected their livelihood," he said.

Mr Mangi said chances of the youth plunging into crime are high.

With regards to conservation, Magarini Transporters Association chairman Daniel Charo said they have planted about 700,000 seedlings to conserve the community forest.

"We usually carry out tree planting activities.....but the floods have swept away about 500,000 seedlings planted in the nursery at the bank of River Sabaki," Mr Charo said.