The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has asked the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to temporarily ban issuance of charcoal burning permits.
Environment Principal Secretary Dr Richard Lesiyampe says that the move is directed at enabling the government conduct more research on how logging permits are issued by KFS and the Baringo County Government.
He was speaking in Nakuru after meeting a delegation from the Ilchamus community that was severely affected by the ban where he promised to convene a meeting with the county leaders within 30 days to deliberate on the issue.
"A temporary ban on logging permits will enable the government find better ways of protecting forests that continue to face threats," said Lesiyampe.
The PS added that the 30 days will help KFS to review all permits and enable clearing of pending charcoal at various centres in the county.
Among areas that were affected by the ban were Salabai location, Ngambo, Ingarwa, Loboi and Kiserian.
The Ilchamus, had been burning charcoal from the Mathenge tree species after a two year court battle in which they had compelled the government to pay them for damages the plant had caused to both humans and livestock.
Residents of Marigat and its environs had earlier complained that the ban affected Mathenge zones and accused the county government of playing politics in order to get direct benefits while the community continue to suffer.
The PS also promised to form a commission comprising of technical experts to assess and quantify the loss visited upon the environment and to the residents of Baringo District by the weed prosopis juliflora popularly known as' mathenge' following court directives.
However, he directed the KFS to take a stern action on charcoal burners using indigenous trees from the forest.
He also warned residents not to allow individuals to take advantage of Mathenge growing regions to destroy indigenous forests.