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Kindiki directs people living in government forest land to vacate

Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kithure Kindiki addressing people in Saku, Marsabit County on May 10, 2024. Photo: (MINA)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Friday, May 10, 2024

The CS elaborated that the government will reclaim all its forest reserves as it aims to increase the sizes, hence why people living in government forests should start leaving.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has ordered Kenyans living in government forest land to vacate immediately.

The CS revealed that the government would begin to reclaim all forest land as they aim to protect the environment.

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Speaking during the national tree planting exercise in Saku in Marsabit County, Kindiki noted that many forest covers had been encroached on by Kenyans.

“There are people who have encroached forests. I want to make it clear that all those who have encroached on government forest land should leave immediately,” he stated.

The CS elaborated that the government will reclaim all its forest reserves as it aims to increase the sizes, hence why people living in government forests should start leaving.

Kindiki revealed that he was aware that some people had acquired land title deeds in the forests through illegal means but insisted that they would vacate.

“Some of these people managed to get fraudulent land title deeds and we are not going to respect any title deed issued against the law therefore anyone who knows they are carrying out activities within government forest land must vacate with or without title deeds,” he added.

Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kithure Kindiki planting seedlings in Saku, Marsabit County on May 10, 2024. Photo: MINA

In March this year, President William Ruto said his administration would not allow people to graze or cultivate crops in forests.

Speaking in Chepseon market in Kericho, the President said the practice will lead to the destruction of forests.

“You have heard about climate change. Kenya was almost destroyed by adverse weather conditions just the other year and it was because of environmental degradation,” he said.

The Head of State vowed that his Kenya Kwanza-led administration will not allow continued destruction of the environment.

Kenya’s current forest cover currently stands at about 7 per cent.

President Ruto has continuously urged Kenyans to support his agenda of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

He said that his administration will ensure the agenda is fully implemented.

The aggressive tree-planting campaign is aimed at increasing the country's e forest cover by five billion trees.