KFS to manage private and community forests under new law

Kenya Forest Service (KFS) could soon extend its operations to private and community forests if Parliament approves a new amendment aimed at increasing revenue and strengthening conservation efforts.

The proposed changes to the Forest Conservation and Management Act of 2016 would allow KFS to provide technical support to counties and private landowners for the development of agro-forestry and commercial forestry projects.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who presented the proposal, explained that the Bill intends to expand the Service’s mandate beyond national forests, enabling collaboration with local governments and individuals to promote forest growth while generating additional income for the agency.

“The Bill proposes an amendment to Section 8 which seeks to provide for certain additional functions of [the] Service, including development of agro-forestry and commercial forestry in private and community land, in collaboration with respective county governments and the individual owners of private forests,” Ichung’wah said.

Currently, KFS is limited to managing state-owned forests, but the new proposal is designed to reflect changing environmental and global conservation trends.

It also aims to strengthen the Service’s financial position, which has been constrained due to the ongoing logging ban, leaving KFS heavily reliant on government funding and forest entry fees.

Under the proposed law, the Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary will be empowered to designate KFS officers as uniformed and disciplined, a role previously under the Interior CS.

At present, only KFS rangers are recognised as uniformed officers alongside personnel from the Kenya Defence Forces, Police, Prisons Service, and Kenya Wildlife Service. Officers under the new system would be required to undergo training and take an official oath.

The Bill introduces stricter measures to protect forests. Penalties for illegal logging or forest destruction would rise from a fine of Sh100,000 or six months in prison to a minimum fine of Sh1 million or at least one year behind bars.

Additionally, importation or export of prohibited forest products would attract a fine of Sh5 million or a three-year prison term.

Private forests will now receive legal protection similar to public forests, with offenders liable for prosecution.

These reforms are intended to help Kenya meet its commitment to increase forest cover from 7.2 million hectares to 10.6 million hectares, a target agreed with the International Monetary Fund in a Sh83 billion loan deal aimed at climate resilience.

Officials say the amendment will allow KFS to diversify its income while enhancing forest conservation, ensuring that both public and private forests are better managed and protected against exploitation.

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