NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 19 – Conservationist and Green Thinking Action Party leader, Dr. Isaac Kalua Green, has called for a complete overhaul of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) leadership, accusing officials of facilitating deforestation and selling indigenous trees for profit.
Dr. Kalua criticized KFS for undermining President William Ruto’s ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, citing rampant corruption and exploitation of forest resources, including excisions for roads and golf courses.
“The president’s call for increased tree cover will remain a mirage when officials within his government are aiding the felling of trees for selfish gains,” Dr. Kalua stated.
He highlighted the involvement of influential families in profiting from forest exploitation and urged Environment CS Aden Duale to intensify efforts against those depleting Kenya’s forest cover.
Dr. Kalua also called for the immediate revocation of all forest operation licenses, including his own organization’s license, issued in 2014 but never operationalized due to systemic bottlenecks.
“The KFS has been more focused on collecting license fees than addressing the underlying issues plaguing forest management,” he said.
Additionally, Dr. Kalua raised concerns about the illegal export of sandalwood, often disguised under different codes to bypass regulations.
He called for urgent reforms to safeguard Kenya’s forests and ensure sustainable management practices.
