Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, who has been in the forefront in criticizing the Jubilee government and the Deputy President, has for the first time supported the move by the government to impose a 90-day ban on tree cutting.
Through his Twitter account, on Monday, February 26, Boni Khalwale said that the move made by the Deputy President William Ruto should be extended even beyond 90 days.
The former senator further urges the county governments to invest in Agroforestry and impose the ban on charcoal burning in there counties.
"Agroforestry is a strong culture in my community affording us at least 9months of rain yearly & keeps Kakamega evergreen. County governments must invest in agroforestry& impose a ban on charcoal business.@WilliamsRuto's 90-day moratorium on logging must officially be extended," posted Khalwale.
During his recent Western Kenya tour, the Deputy President said that it was time for the government to protect forest and that heavy penalties should be imposed on those found doing illegal logging as punishment following prolonged draught spell that has been witnessed in the country.
Meanwhile Environment cabinet secretary Kiriako Tobiko has warned those found logging that they would face the full force of the law.
“As I take office, this country is facing Serious drought and water shortage and this is because we have interfered with our water catchment areas by carrying out illegal logging and encroachment of wetlands. We are going to take immediate actions to those found culpable,” said Tobiko.
Khalwale's comments come when some locals barricaded the busy Nairobi-Nakuru Highway protesting the razing of a Lorry found transporting charcoal in drought-hit Kitui County by locals.