The government is mulling lifting a ban that was imposed on logging before retired President Uhuru Kenyatta left office.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 7, Forestry Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho announced that Makutano Forest in Kericho County had been opened for tree harvesting after the logging ban was lifted.
He noted that President William Ruto's policy on tree planting had seen the restriction removed as the government seeks to increase the country's forest cover.
“We are beginning with those who had paid before the ban. Then we will open the other forests which have matured.
The system will help since some areas were harvested and after the restriction, no more trees were planted,” he stated.
Kimotho noted that there was high demand for tree seedlings following Ruto's initiative on planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
"The chairman has stated that he will present it to the board next week and it will be supported," he noted.
Addressing the same, Kericho Governor Erick Mutai noted that residents would be given the first priority in harvesting trees before outsiders since they had planted and nurtured the trees.
“We do not want to see lorries here, we want 80 per cent being represented by the local community," he uttered.
On August 2021, the Kenya Forest Service announced that they had lost Ksh4 billion in revenue for a period of four years following the ban on logging in public and community forests.
The logging ban hit forest-dependent centres and communities mostly around Makutano, Maji Mazuri, Mau Summit, Elburgon, Molo, Kaptagat and Buka.
The government also lifted the ban on Ugandan agricultural produce following a meeting with Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala, allowing staples such as milk, chicken, and eggs back onto the market.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration introduced the ban on the products in 2021.
On October 3, 2022, Ruto lifted the ban on genetically modified crops that was imposed in 2012. He stated that the ban had been lifted in accordance with the recommendation of the Task Force formed to review matters relating to Genetically Modified Foods and Food Safety.
Through the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency, the government on Thursday, January 19, announced a two-week window for off-season avocado export.
