Kenya Forest Service and Administration officers jointly progressed an operation to Kedong ranch in Nakuru county to nab and stop illegal forest destruction against the provisions of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016.
Chief Conservator of Forest, Julius Kamau revealed that illegal charcoal burners are camping deep inside forests cutting down indigenous trees for charcoal making and poaching wildlife to sustain their stay in the bushes.
"Illegal activities such as charcoal making, cedar post-chopping and erection of illegal makeshift structures in private are emerging that needs to be stopped urgently," said Kamau.
Kamau said on the operation at Akira one in Kedong ranch, 15 bags of ready charcoal were destroyed, 21 makeshift structures pulled down and 237 charcoal kilns destroyed.
"There were no people at Akira one when the operation was being executed,” Kamau is quoted by the Standard.
He added that three suspects have been so far arrested along the expansive Uaso Kedong Valley in connection with charcoal burning.
The conservationist further urged the members of the public to join hands towards the restoration of the forest.
"Members of the public are also reminded that the current moratorium on logging in public and community forest is still in force and that anybody found engaging in logging or charcoal-burning in these forests will be arrested and prosecuted," Kamau cautioned.