Nairobi, KENYA: Environment and forestry cabinet secretary Keriako Tobiko has sought for more time to give his directive on the mangrove logging ban that was slapped against Lamu county.
Speaking before the parliamentary committee on environment chaired by Maara member of parliament Kareke Mbiuki on Monday, Tobiko asked the house committee to give him a leeway of one month to conclusively give his consideration on the matter, whether the ban will be uplifted or not.
Tobiko said that there is need for him to involve all stakeholders who are privy to the matter so that he can be able to make an informed decision on the ban.
Lamu county women rep Ruwieda Mohammed had presented a petition to the house committee on the ban of logging and harvesting of Mangrove in Lamu county.
The ban was effected from the second quarter this year, after the countrywide ban was announced by the deputy
president William Ruto as a mitigation measure against the prolonged drought spells and water shortages in the country.
The mangrove loggers majorly concentrated in Lamu East sub-county have been claiming to have lost millions of shillings ever since the ban was introduced.
On the other hand; Tobiko warned that there is a need for the Mau saga to be resolved as early as possible in order to avert environmental catastrophe after indicating that 716 people have title deeds in the Mau while 4000 people have allotment land letters while 2,000 residents have encroached the Mau without any documentation.
