Residents of Kuresoi South sub-county have accused the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officials of involving themselves in tree felling and charcoal burning instead of protecting the Mau forest from threats of extinction.
Addressing the media at Keringet shopping centre, the residents claimed that the officers were also hiring charcoal burners, who are paid Sh500 per day to fell and burn charcoal from the Mau forest complex.
The residents also said the agency has been allowing large scale saw millers to fell mature trees, locking out small scale timber companies.
David Mutai said that all saw millers were participating in the government campaigns of restoring the lost Mau forest glory, urging the forest department to equally issue licences in a competitive and open process in order to benefit all companies.
He said saw millers have employed many idle youth in both Molo and Kuresoi areas, calling on the government to streamline the process and do away with powerful cartels while issuing permits.
Amid claims of being dishonest as they execute their responsibility, a section of KFS officers have denied being involved in the felling and charcoal burning.
The officers said all procedures must be followed in order for an individual or a company to harvest forest products from government forests.
The residents said they had reported the matter to Kuresoi deputy county commissioner Silas Gatobu, who promised to investigate the matter.