President William Ruto has lifted the nationwide ban on logging, authorising the harvesting of mature trees in Kenya’s forests for commercial use.
Speaking during a public engagement at the Molo Technical and Vocational College in Elburgon, Nakuru County, on Monday, Ruto said it made no sense to let valuable timber decay in forests while local industries struggled.
“We shall reopen the timber factories here in Elburgon. I have told my Minister of Trade, Mr Lee Kinyanjui, that importing furniture from China must end. We will use our wood to make furniture,” the President declared to applause from the crowd.
Ruto said the government will begin selling mature trees from public forests to local sawmillers, adding that the timber would be used to furnish affordable housing units under construction across the country.
“Furniture in Kenya will use timber from here, and our Kenyan youth will create that furniture,” he said.
However, he cautioned that the conditional lifting of the ban should not be interpreted as a licence for illegal logging, warning that only mature trees would be harvested under strict supervision.
The President is expected to meet sawmillers from the region on Tuesday to agree on sustainable logging practices.
Also present at the event were Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, Cabinet Secretaries Alice Wahome (Lands and Housing) and Lee Kinyanjui (Trade), Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, and several MPs and MCAs.
Earlier in the day, Ruto had visited Kuresoi North Constituency for the Mau Forest Restoration Programme, where he launched livelihood projects for forest-adjacent communities. He later commissioned the 220-unit St Claire Affordable Housing Project in Elburgon and laid the foundation stone for the 2,680-unit Michinda Affordable Housing Project.
