Kenyans who rely on charcoal for cooking may soon be forced to spend more on fuel after the government introduced new regulations for charcoal producers.
Through the Ministry of Environment, the government announced on Tuesday, 4 March, a proposed piece of legislation aimed at controlling charcoal production in the country, including the issuance of licences.
In the latest proposal, Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale outlined plans for the registration and licensing of all commercial charcoal producers as part of efforts to enhance environmental conservation.
Under the proposed law, no person will be allowed to engage in the commercial production of charcoal without a valid charcoal production licence issued by their respective county government.
A person seeking to acquire a charcoal production licence must ensure they use efficient charcoal production technology and develop a conservation and management plan for the proposed charcoal production site.
According to the proposal, charcoal production must not be conducted in ecologically sensitive areas, biodiversity hotspots, areas that threaten or endanger species, or locations of cultural significance.
Under the new regulations, a charcoal producer must also ensure that any charcoal they generate is sorted and packaged in synthetic fibre sacks, paper, gunny bags, or plastic film sacks.
The charcoal bags or sacks must be labelled with the name and address of the charcoal producer, the area and county of production, the weight, the tree species from which the charcoal was made, and the technology used for charcoal production.
“A charcoal producer engaged in charcoal production without an approved conservation and management plan commits an offence,” the Ministry of Environment noted.
The regulations also stipulate that anyone transporting charcoal must have a valid movement permit. County governments will be responsible for approving and issuing permits for the transportation of charcoal.
Meanwhile, a forest officer will be tasked with regularly conducting surveillance and inspections to ensure that charcoal producers, transporters, traders, importers, and exporters comply with the new regulations.
“A person who obstructs a forest officer in the execution of his or her powers or duties under these Regulations and the Act commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to the penalty provided under section 67(1) of the Act,” read part of the proposed law.
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