Widespread destruction of forests in Marakwet West Sub-County has sparked urgent calls for environmental protection, with authorities warning against illegal harvesting and commercialisation of forest products.
Speaking during a public baraza at Kapsowar, Marakwet West Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Fred Masinjila decried the rising cases of illegal tree felling, charcoal burning, and unauthorised firewood collection.
Masinjila regretted that these activities were rapidly depleting the area’s forest cover and thus threatening vital water catchment zones.
He cautioned that those involved in the commercialisation of forest products were not only breaking the law but also jeopardising the ecological future of the region.
He condemned the growing trend of cutting trees for sale, particularly to hotels, calling it a direct threat to water catchment areas and biodiversity.
“Firewood collection from the forest is for home use and not for sale; it should not be sold to hotels,” he stressed during the meeting, warning that hotels found in possession of such firewood would be subjected to investigations and subsequent prosecution.
The destruction, he noted, was already leading to soil erosion, reduced rainfall and loss of biodiversity. He called on the community to understand that forest preservation was not a government responsibility alone but a collective duty.
Masinjila directed that no farming will continue to take place on forest land, adding, “We are finishing our forests and that is unacceptable.”
Community elders present also raised concern over the shift from traditional firewood collection to commercial exploitation, blaming businessmen for depleting the region’s forests. “It’s no longer the Marakwet women going to fetch firewood; it’s businessmen who exploit the forest for profit,” one elder lamented.
The meeting underscored the role of young people in conservation. “Youth must be at the forefront of forest protection. If you don’t act now, you will have no place to put your cows,” an elder warned.
He urged young people to shun short-term gains from illegal logging in exchange for long-term environmental security.
Alongside the environmental conservation appeal, Masinjila used the occasion to issue a stern warning against criminals and all drug dealers.
“We must work without favouritism or corruption,” he said, urging administrators to enforce the law fairly.
The DCC further directed that all matatu saccos must ensure their drivers wear uniforms, operate from designated stages, and comply with all traffic regulations.
“The law is clear, and it must be followed,” he emphasised, warning that non-compliance would attract sanctions.
By Rennish Okong’o
