Machakos County Assembly on Wednesday adopted a motion seeking to give the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) the green light to clear tall old trees in Katunga forest along Machakos-Kathiani road.
The motion was moved by Kathiani Central Member of Country Assembly(MCA) Dominic Ndambuki who stated that the trees have been falling anyhow especially during rains.
Due to this, he said, they have interfered with transport and even endangered lives of motorists.
Ndambuki intimated that the logging ban by Deputy President William Ruto became obsolete in May 2019 and there is a need to cut the trees that are over 20 years old.
"The old trees along Kathiani- Machakos road sometimes fall and cause obstruction to motorists cognizant of the fact that for the safety of the road users, there's a need to come up with measures to clear trees on the mentioned road," said the MCA.
"Acknowledging that his excellency Deputy President imposed a three-month logging ban on the public forest which expired on 24th May 2019. I wish to move a motion that the county assembly in collaboration with Kenya Forest Service puts up measures to clear all falloff trees along the road," he added.
Makutano MCA Brian Kisila, however, suggested for the planting of more trees before cutting down the old ones.
He said that if the residents notice that there is a leeway for cutting trees, then the county may be reduced to a desert.
Speaker Margaret Mwikali, however, stated that life was important than trees and there is a need for the action to be taken.
She directed for the motion to be committed to the environment committee stating that there's a need for county importance procedure of checking on lives and environment.
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