Herbalists operating in the North Rift region have lauded the government for banning logging in forests for 90 days.
Through their chairman, Shadrack Moimet who runs the Koibatek Herbal Clinic in Eldoret town, they said the ban will enable the conservation of forests which they rely on to harvest herbal medicine.
They said the ban should, in fact, be extended.
"Logging has negatively affected our business," Moimet said.
"The ban on tree cutting will go a long way in preserving forests which we rely on in running our business'" he added.
Moimet further said most Kenyans have resorted to using herbal medicine whenever they fall sick. He said, as a result, local industries are developing.
Deputy President William Ruto earlier in March announced that the government had imposed a 90-day a ban on tree cutting in all forests saying the rate at which natural forests are disappearing is alarming.
He said the ban will affect both state managed and community-based forests. The DP directed Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko to ensure the ban is adhered to.
A task force led by Green Belt Movement chairperson Marion Wakanyi Kamau has since been formed to monitor logging in forests.
The task force will be required to provide recommendations on how depleted forests cab be restored to achieve the Constitutional 10 percent forest cover.
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