The New Samburu West County Commissioner (CC), Peter Mose, has directed Chiefs and their assistants to intensify the crackdown on loggers and charcoal dealers, to contain wanton destruction of forest cover in the region.
He ordered the administrators to strictly deter unscrupulous business persons from destructive harvesting of trees, citing Lok forest in loosuk area, where trees were reportedly being fell haphazardly for charcoal production with impunity.
CC Mose told a Jamuhuri Day celebration at Loosuk Trading Centre that the government will no longer entertain indiscriminate and vicious destruction of native trees, warning that those officers found abetting the trend will be held liable.
“Chiefs and their assistants must ensure that no forest destruction takes place in their respective jurisdictions and we do not want to continue having cases like the recent seizure of a lorry ferrying eight tonnes of charcoal in Loosuk,” he said.
Mose asked security officer at Loosuk Trading Centre to impound any lorry carrying timber, charcoal or any other contraband products from the forest and hand over the culprits to police for further processing and action including possible prosecution.
The administrator at the same time asked parents to keep tabs on their children during the long holidays so that they do not indulge in vices such as drug abuse and other social ills.
By Lelendu Petikas
