CS Duale orders suspension of forest rangers accused of brutality in Kwale
By Lucy Mumbi |
Duale condemned the incident terming it as "repugnant" and a clear violation of human dignity and rights, emphasising that such actions cannot be tolerated.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called for the suspension of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) rangers implicated in a video showing the brutalisation of a citizen in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County.
The incident, captured in a widely circulated video, shows the rangers attacking an individual found ferrying firewood, sparking outrage on social media.
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Duale on Wednesday condemned the incident terming it as "repugnant" and a clear violation of human dignity and rights, emphasising that such actions cannot be tolerated.
While reiterating the government's unwavering stance against forest crimes, including illegal logging, he stated that such brutality undermines the integrity of the law enforcement process.
"I acknowledge KFS's swift decision to interdict one of the officers. However, it is clear from the video that more than one ranger was involved," Duale said.
The CS has directed the Chief Conservator of Forests to immediately suspend all the rangers involved in the incident, insisting that action be taken in accordance with established procedures.
Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale has directed Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Mr. Alex Lemarkoko to immediately interdict all rangers captured on video brutalising a Kwale resident for ferrying firewood.1/2 pic.twitter.com/ayDRAtYcCw
— Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry (@Environment_Ke) November 20, 2024
Meanwhile, KFS has clarified that it does not condone such behaviour and the ranger in question has been interdicted. The service noted that investigations are ongoing and all those responsible will be held to account.
"The Service upholds Human Rights -Based Approach in conducting any arrests of forest offenders and all staff are empowered with the necessary skills and knowledge. Hence, such incidents are unacceptable and do not reflect our ethos as a Service," KFS said.
KFS urged the public to report any incidents of harassment, corruption and forest crimes to the nearest police station or send an email to: [email protected].
The development comes as the government intensifies efforts to curb forest crimes, urging law enforcement agencies to uphold human rights while executing their mandates.
In August, Duale ordered an immediate ban on the export of raw veneer materials to safeguard the country’s environmental future. He said the move aims to reshape the timber industry and refocus efforts on sustainable practices within Kenya.
Veneers, which are thin layers of wood typically bonded to other wood surfaces, have become a valuable commodity in global trade, particularly in markets in India and China. However, the unregulated and premature harvesting of trees for veneer production has raised alarms among environmentalists and local manufacturers alike.
Kenya’s timber manufacturers raised alarms for months, claiming that the country has lost nearly a billion shillings in revenue due to these unchecked activities.
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