Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa has assured Kenyans that there is no tree harvesting taking place in Kamuruana Hill Forest, Kirinyaga County.
Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, Dr. Barasa responded to questions from Kirinyaga Senator James Murango, who had raised concerns about alleged deforestation in the area. She said recent satellite images and photos showed no logging activities were underway.
“There is no tree harvesting currently being undertaken on Kamuruana Hill. This has been verified through the latest satellite imagery and photographs provided,” she said.
Kamuruana Hill, also known as Karaini Forest, is part of the Kangaita Forest Station in Kirinyaga West and covers about 24 hectares. It includes pine plantations and bushland but is separate from the main Kangaita Forest block.
Dr. Barasa assured that any future harvesting would follow the law, including the Forest Conservation and Management Act (2016), Environmental Management and Coordination Act (1999), and Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (2015). She also promised meaningful public participation before any activity begins.
“All legal procedures will be followed and the community must be involved in every step,” she said.
In response to Senator Murango’s concerns about the safety of local communities and environmental protection, the CS outlined the government’s strategy. This includes a completed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for forest plantations in the Mt. Kenya region, conducted by the Kenya Forest Service.
The ESIA, she said, included public consultations such as the Embu Public Participation Report and led to the issuance of licenses with strict conditions for any future harvesting.
To support climate action and restore degraded land, the Ministry is implementing the Forest Conservation 2024–2025 Annual Work Plan. Dr. Barasa highlighted that under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the government has finalized the National Forest Policy (2023), launched the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy (2023–2032), produced over 100 metric tonnes of quality tree seeds annually, and is on track to plant more than 1.5 billion seedlings across the country.
She also reported that 2,664 forest rangers have been recruited, 61,256 hectares of public forest and 3,054 hectares of bamboo forest have been rehabilitated, and 1,190 kilometers of forest land have been fenced to stop encroachment.
“These achievements reflect our unwavering commitment to sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation,” said Dr. Barasa.
The Ministry has also increased community involvement through the Kenya Forest Service by deploying forest officers nationwide and cracking down on illegal charcoal production. New rules will require licensing of charcoal producers, and a 24-hour toll-free hotline will be launched to report illegal activities.
Dr. Barasa further noted that under the 15 Billion Tree-Growing National Initiative, the Ministry is working with counties and local communities to restore forests using certified seeds from KEFRI and offering technical support to farmers and groups.
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