Kenya has lifted a six-year ban on logging, with President William Ruto announcing early this month that the ban was “long overdue” and would create jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision has sparked outrage amongst ENGOs, with Greenpeace Africa stating that the decision “has put a harsh spotlight on the government’s mismanagement of the country’s forests.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a speech on July 2, President Ruto said logging would follow strict harvesting rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But critics are concerned that the Kenya Forest Service, the agency responsible for managing public forests and issuing logging licenses, has not been reformed since being labelled “corrupt” by a government inquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“By lifting this ban, President Ruto has prioritised profit over people and nature,” said Greenpeace Africa’s Community Manager Tracy Makheti, who, like other environmentalists, expressed alarm at the government’s new policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Greenpeace Africa is now petitioning the government to reinstate the ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n