The Council of Governors (CoG) on Monday announced plans to create a new position in all 47 counties in association with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Ministry of Environment.
Outgoing CoG Chairman Josphat Nanok stated that NEMA would gazette members of the county staff as Environment Inspectors to help enforce the ban on plastic bags.
"On the ban of plastic bags, the Council has agreed with the Ministry that NEMA will gazette County staff as environmental inspectors to help in monitoring compliance," the Turkana Governor stated.
The Governors further assured the national government of full co-operation in the effort to curb the depletion of forests.
[caption caption="Council of Governors during the Monday presser"]
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"In taking cognizance of the worrying logging trends that continue to devastate our forests, the CoG has resolved to work with the Environment Ministry in initiatives that will lead to the restoration of forest cover to the required threshold of 10%.
"Currently, Kenya has a forest cover of only 7.3%, which is being depleted at an alarming rate.
"The Council will collaborate with the Ministry to prepare a policy paper on logging and measures for both levels of Government to adopt in order to control deforestation," the Governors assured.
Earlier in the day, Deputy President William Ruto officially launched the task force meant to review forestry management appointed by Environment CS Keriako Tobiko.
He assured the taskforce of both financial and political support from the national government.
"I have told this team that you have the support of the President, myself, the government of Kenya, you have our goodwill and judging from the public, you have every Kenyan behind you in recommending to us the best way of managing our forest resources and our environment," DP Ruto stated.
[caption caption="DP Ruto launches 10 member multi-sectoral taskforce that will review forestry management across the country"]
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