By Our Reporters
Worth Noting:
- In their response, KFS through their head of biodiversity, James Mwamodenyi, disclosed that by the time the issue was brought to their attention, the baobab trees had already been uprooted and were ready for exportation.
- “After the issue was brought to our attention we made an inquiry and was informed that the trees were destined to Shekvetili botanical garden in Georgia. And the intention was for them to be showcased in a section as part of trees collection from different parts of the world,” Mr. Mwamodenyi said.
Members of the National Assembly’s committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining led by Charles Kamuren together with Members of Kilifi County Assembly committee on Water, Environment and Natural Resources led by Benson Ngirani have jointly probed the uprooting and exportation of Baobab trees at Tezo community in Kilifi county.
Yesterday, members of the two committees met with Kenya Forestry Service (KFS), Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI) and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) at Kilifi County Assembly.
During the meeting, they asked the institutions which they said are concerned with forestry and tree conservation the role each played in the whole saga.
In their response, KFS through their head of biodiversity, James Mwamodenyi, disclosed that by the time the issue was brought to their attention, the baobab trees had already been uprooted and were ready for exportation.
“After the issue was brought to our attention we made an inquiry and was informed that the trees were destined to Shekvetili botanical garden in Georgia. And the intention was for them to be showcased in a section as part of trees collection from different parts of the world,” Mr. Mwamodenyi said.
According to Dr. Linus Wekesa who is a researcher at KEFRI, a baobab tree is not classified as an endangered species facing extinction in the coastal part of Kenya.
Dr. Wekesa further disclosed that they didn’t take part in issuing any permit for the uprooting and exportation of the trees as their role is just to give advisory directions when necessary.
“From a point of science and conservation status, this particular tree is not classified as one of the endangered species. It is not under a treat of facing extinction,” he said.
On it’s part NEMA told the members that after being cleared with KFS and KEFRI, their concern was the fact that the uprooted baobab was meant for exportation and not transfer within thus prompting them to subject the whole activity to Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) which said the process had no negative impact and issued a licence to authorize exportation.
“There should be a legislation that protect trees like baobab which might escape the regulation process. The community has a lot of cultural attachment to them and should be protected,” NEMA Chief Enforcement Officer, Robert Orina, told the two Committees.
The members from both Assemblies also wanted to know why KFS didn’t not ensure that there was a public participation on the issue and guide the community on the value of baobab trees before it authorized the uprooting process.
After meeting with the three institutions, the members visited Tezo village where the baobab trees were uprooted and thereafter inspected the eight uprooted baobab which are now awaiting exportation to Georgia at Bofa yard.
The committee is expected to write a report on it’s fact finding mission and present it to the house for debate.
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