Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources, Keriako Tobiko, has told Members of Parliament that he can deliver better than his Interior counterpart Fred Matiang'i.
Speaking during his tour of the Mt Kenya forest, a charged Tobiko dismissed calls by the Environment Committee of the National Assembly to have the department of forestry moved to the Ministry of Interior.
Tobiko stated that what ails his Ministry is lack of resources which he maintained will not be cured by relocating it.
"As if Matiang'i is a magician. There is no magic that Matiang'i has that Tobiko doesn't have, let's be real," Tobiko noted.
[caption caption="Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i"]
[/caption]
"Give me the police force, give me the equipment that Matiang'i has at his disposal and this ministry will be as good, if not better, than Matiang'i," he added.
Tobiko noted that illegal logging had led to drought and water shortage in various parts of the country maintaining those found destroying the environment will not be spared.
The former Director of Public Prosecutions also put on notice millers who harvest trees beyond the required quarters, warning that their licenses will be revoked.
Tobiko stated: "Those who collude with criminals to plunder our national resources will have their licenses withdrawn. There will be no mercy."
He further talked tough noting: "I don't care which politician you know. You can call whoever you wish but if you commit a crime you will answer to it. I can promise you that."
[caption caption="Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources Keriako Tobiko"]
[/caption]
The Environment CS also cautioned staff who break the law noting that they will be dismissed. Already there have been transfers of more than 30 forestry officers most of who have been in the same stations for too long.
