Tobiko: Probe saw millers, KFS staff over Sh1.2bn debt
Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko addresses the Seventh Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa, at Safari Park hotel in Nairobi, on October 10, 2018. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko wants the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate possible collusion between saw millers and some Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officials over Sh1.2 billion debt.
The amount is owed to KFS by saw millers for harvested forest plantation material between 2012 and 2018.
FULL PAYMENT
In a letter to DPP Noordin Haji, Mr Tobiko notes that before forest plantation material is allocated to saw millers for harvesting, the payment of the assessed value must be made in full.
“It would therefore be necessary to investigate and determine whether the accumulated debt was as a result of collusion and conspiracy between relevant KFS officials and the saw millers in question to defraud the KFS,” the CS says in a letter dated November 9.
“I write therefore to kindly request you, in exercise of your constitutional and legal powers, to direct relevant criminal investigative agencies to conduct investigations into the matters raised,” Mr Tobiko adds.
Some of the saw millers that owe KFS huge amounts of money include Definate Concept (Sh7.8 million), Bartonyi Sawmill (Sh5.6 million), Aldakilgor Sawmill (Sh4.5 million), Awen Sawmills (Sh3.7 million), Nogra Sawmills (Sh2.8 million), Dapa Investment (Sh2.8 million), Syreb Sawmills (Sh1.2 million) and Philfrank Sawmill (Sh1.5 million).
On Friday, the government extended by one year the ban on logging in public forests, that is effective November 24, to facilitate their rehabilitation.
