An environmental activist has criticized the Nakuru County Government for failing to put in place proper environmental protection measures.
The coordinator of Kenya Forests Working Group Jackson Bambo, while talking to journalists in Nakuru town after touring Koibatek, Bahati, Menengai forests and Hyrax Hill, which have been affected by a series of fire outbreaks in the last one month, said that the fires had destroyed many natural trees and vegetation, which was a big blow to environmental conservation.
The activist observed that most of the fire outbreaks were as a result of carelessness from workers and poor management at the stations, and which could have been avoided.
He challenged the Nakuru County Government Ministry of Environment to take responsibility and put in place proper measures through sustainable policies and programmes that will guarantee adequate environmental protection.
“We are not amused by what we read in news on daily basis. These fire accidents are caused by recklessness and negligence of workers at the natural environments, especially security teams,” he said.
“If they cannot explain the causes of the fires, then it seems they are sleeping on the job. The forests managements should explain why herders, charcoal burners and wood harvesters are allowed into the forests illegally or not under supervision,” he added.
He further said that the county government should take responsibility over the losses, and put in place permanent solutions to such incidences.
“The magnitudes of indigenous trees and shrubs that have been destroyed is overwhelming and it should never happen again,” added the officer.