A company in Kericho County on Monday, July 3, announced its intention to auction 1,500 blue gum trees for a reserve price of Ksh3 million.
The trees are planted on a 2-acre piece of land situated at Brooke Shopping Centre near Kericho Town.
The announcement was made a few hours after President William Ruto lifted a six-year logging ban put in place by his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta.
While lifting the ban, Ruto stated that the directive will boost the economic fortunes of residents living in areas where logging was practised.
The auction in Kericho will see the company make millions from the sale should it go through.
“Bidders are encouraged to inspect the blue gum trees before giving their best buying prices,” the company stated while setting the minimum reserve price at Ksh3 million.
Furthermore, successful bidders will be required to oversee the cutting of the trees following the company’s statement that the items will be sold ‘as is where is basis.'
Those bidding for the trees will have to make payments within 15 days and take the blue gum trees in a span of 30 days upon the award.
In 2018, the Kenyan government outlawed logging on all community and public land noting it was embarking on reassessing and rationalising the entire forest sector in the country.
Uhuru’s administration, while banning logging, noted the exercise would protect main water catchment areas across the country.
“People are struggling on where to get timber, yet trees are decaying in forests. We have lifted the ban so that we can harvest mature trees,” the President announced while lifting the ban.
Ruto, while lifting the ban, noted that it would in no way go against his vision to combat the ravages of climate change as only mature trees would be cut.
On December 2022, the President announced that his administration would plant 15 billion trees within ten years to reduce greenhouse emissions, stop and reverse deforestation as well as restore 5.1 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes.
