A General Service Unit (GSU) lorry ferrying 450 cedar posts was impounded by police in Bomet after it veered off the road and landed in a ditch on Monday morning.
Reports suggest that the lorry is attached to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit camp at Nemesis on the Bomet, Kisii, Narok county border and was ferrying the posts from Chebunyo to a neighbouring county.
Immediately after the accident, which occurred at around 6.30am, Bomet Base Commander Chief Inspector Richard Psaima and Corporal David Chumo rushed to the scene and thwarted attempts to transfer the cedar posts into another lorry.
Confirming the incident, Chepalungu sub-county police boss Nelson Masai revealed that investigations into the incident had commenced.
“It is true the lorry veered off the road in the morning with three officers on board. We are investigating how a government vehicle was illegally used to ferry forest products,” Masai affirmed.
According to one of the traders in the area, Rueben Koech, the lorry is used thrice a week to ferry forest products from Transmara sub-county in Narok to Chebunyo and Kaboson trading centres in Bomet County.
The incident was condemned by activists in the area who called on the public to work hand in hand with the authorities to curb the vice.
“It is unfortunate that police officers tasked with enforcing the law are the same ones breaking it with impunity,” activist Tyson Kiprotich Saitoti.
He demanded that action be taken against the culpable officer.
Bomet ecosystem conservator Francis Misonge appealed to the public to volunteer information on those involved in plundering natural resources.
“It does not matter the position one holds in society or government, the law will be applied equally on those who illegally harvest, transport and sell forest products,” he reiterated.
Section 71 of the Forest Conservation and Management Act 2016 gives powers to the Kenya Forest Service to regulate the felling, working and removal of forest produce in areas where trees may be felled or removed.
The Forest Harvesting Rules 2009 Section 11(1) states that a person shall not transport forest produce without a valid licence for produce from State forests or community forests, and, in the case of produce from private land, a proof of origin issued by the owner of the forest from which the timber was felled, and, the proof of payment of the prescribed fee.
The movement permit is issued by the County Ecosystem Conservator, and this is given on production of the certificate of origin which indicates the source and the farm owner.
