The Director General Kenya Forest Service –KFS Emillio Mugo has revealed that the department is spending more than 56 million shillings to build modern houses for forest rangers in four of its conservancies in the country.
Addressing media at the Menengai Eco System view point in Nakuru on Thursday during a familiarization tour of the field activities of KFS, Mugo said the programme was in line with the policy of the service to improve the general welfare of its staff.
“The housing units are being built in Lower Imenti in Eastern conservancy, Karura in Nairobi conservancy and Logoman and Nakuru in Mau conservancy.
The director said that in each conservancy the construction work will cost the service 18 million Shillings.
According to Mugo, each self contained housing unit will accommodate one range for those with families but for those who are single it can accommodate two of them.
The Director added that six units are being built in one place in order to make up a camp which will also have an armory and century.
“This will go a long way in boosting the morale of rangers who have had to cope with harsh living conditions in wooden houses” he said.
Meanwhile, the director acknowledged the tremendous steps made by the service Mau reclamation endeavor with more than 60,000 hectares having been reclaimed with most of them being in South western Mau and Marioshoni .
In Narok county 18,000 hectares have been reclaimed with more set to be completed in phase four of the process to be spelt out by the Kenya water towers agency.
Mugo said that reclaimed areas will be rehabilitated when rains kick off.
He said that the reclaimed part was one which had been illegally encroached.
PHOTO/Courtesy:KFS Director General Emillio Mugo