Govt Clarifies on Plan to Handover 60,000 Hectares of Mau Forest to Dutch Company
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS), representing the government, addressed rumors on Sunday regarding the alleged transfer of a 60,000-hectare portion of the Mau Forest Complex to a foreign company.
In a statement, the KFS clarified that although it is collaborating with a Dutch company to preserve the South West Mau forest, there is no intention to transfer ownership of the natural resource to any private entity.
The statement emphasized that the Dutch-based company has been working in partnership with the government for more than a decade to restore and safeguard the water catchment area.
“There are therefore no intentions by the government to cede ownership of any gazetted forest in Kenya to any other entity apart from that of the Government of Kenya,” the statement from KFS read in part.
Regarding the foreign company’s contribution to environmental conservation, the KFS highlighted that the company had erected forest ranger outposts.
These outposts play a crucial role in safeguarding the forest and supporting community empowerment initiatives aimed at alleviating stress on the forest ecosystem.
“It (the company) has also been instrumental in assisting Community Forest Associations to develop Participatory Forest Management Plans (PFMP) to enable them to fully benefit from their conservation efforts,” KFS detailed the scope of the partnership.
As the Dutch company played a role in conserving the Mau Forest through the mentioned efforts, the KFS emphasized that this should not be misinterpreted as President William Ruto’s administration relinquishing control over the forest’s management.
The KFS clarified that President Ruto had already expressed his stance on the issue, stating that no natural resource would be delegated to the private sector for management.
Furthermore, the KFS pointed out that the Forest Conservation and Management Act of 2016 specifically entrusted the Service with the responsibility of conserving and managing all officially designated forest blocks.
Speaking to Politics254.com, the company also clarified their role in Mau Forest Complex conservation.
“Our collaborative efforts entail working with the KFS towards sustainable solutions that benefit both people and the planet,” the company stated.
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Govt Clarifies on Plan to Handover 60,000 Hectares of Mau Forest to Dutch Company
