Kenyan President William Ruto has ordered the sacking of no fewer than twenty-three (23) officials of the Kenya Forest Service for their involvement in corrupt activities that caused the destruction of many of the country's forests.
According to a report by the Kenya Forest Service, the officials were dismissed for their involvement in corrupt activities such as illegal logging, charcoal burning, and land grabbing, which have led to the destruction of many of the country's forests. The report states that the officials were found to have colluded with timber and charcoal traders to illegally harvest forest resources, and that some of them had even been bribed to allow the destruction of forests.
The President's decision to sack the officials comes as part of his efforts to address the issue of deforestation in the country. Deforestation has been a major problem in Kenya, with the country losing an estimated 2.5% of its forest cover each year. This has had serious consequences for the environment, including soil erosion, water scarcity, and loss of biodiversity.
The Kenya Forest Service has been at the forefront of efforts to protect the country's forests, and the dismissal of the corrupt officials is seen as a major step towards addressing the problem. The service has also been working to strengthen its enforcement capabilities, including the establishment of a special task force to combat illegal logging and charcoal burning.
In addition to the dismissal of the officials, the President has also announced plans to increase the penalties for those found guilty of deforestation and illegal logging. The penalties will include fines and imprisonment, and will be enforced by the Kenya Forest Service and other relevant authorities.