The County Government of Taita Taveta has deployed youth in groups to monitor and report any illegal harvesting and transportation of endangered species, the sandalwood. The youths will also monitor illegal harvesting of timber from local forests as well as local ranches.
The youth whose identities are classified and confidential, will be carrying out their operations in secrecy so that illegal traders cannot dodge them.
Governor Granton Samboja speaking in his county yesterday, said he had hired and deployed youths to specific strategic points in the county to disrupt traders taking part in the illegal business.
The governor said the youths will be using the special numbers he gave them to call and alert his office anytime they sport traders transporting the endangered species in the county.
"We have secretly deployed the vigilant groups in strategic places and given them special telephone numbers they can alert my office whenever they intercept Lorries with sandalwood locally known as 'Kijulu'. No lorry will be allowed to transport forest products outside the county," warned Governor Samboja.
Governor Samboja also took his blames on powerful merchants in the county saying they are the one carrying out the illegal business. They illegal harvest sandalwood in the county and then transport them to neighboring counties.