KFS says poachers have killed, maimed 100 staff
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has lost three rangers and 22 others have been left with life threatening injuries in the last seven months while in the line of duty.
KFS also revealed that five rangers were killed between 2015 and 2020 while at work.
An estimated 106 of the forest law enforcement officers also sustained injuries.
Chief Conservator Julius Kamau noted the institution is concerned that this is happening even as its mandate is expanding, and the growing need to safeguard the country’s forest resources.
Huge task
Speaking on Friday during the World Ranger Day, Kamau noted that the rangers met their destiny in the hands of poachers; illegal loggers and other criminal elements, while wild animals attacked others.
“KFS seeks to bring attention to the role of Forest Rangers in forest conservation and protection, and most importantly to recognise those injured or died in the course of duty as we mark the World Ranger Day,” he said at the Michuki Memorial Park during the World Ranger Day on July 31.
The Park that is under rehabilitation is set to be handed over to the institution this month.
Since June, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has been reclaiming blocks of forests in the city and tasking KFS to manage and safeguard affiliated resources in them.
One of them is the 60-acre City Park and 1,000-hectare Ngong’ Road Forest, which have lost huge chunks of forestland to illegal occupants.
Kamau said that with this huge task before the institution, it would be prudent for Kenyans to remember the responsibility of Forest Rangers, and their role to protect the forests.
“The rangers serve diligently to safeguard Kenya’s forest resources and this day is an important platform to highlight their achievements and challenges.
More often than not, Forest Rangers face life-threatening situations in their line of duty sometimes being attacked by wild animals or assaulted if not killed by illegal loggers or poachers and other criminal elements.
“It’s therefore, important for every Kenyan who goes to the tap water to remember that it is solely because of the rangers they drink the scarce and precious commodity,” he said.
He said the officers further brave the extreme terrain and harsh weather conditions in the wild which, sometimes leave them with lifelong health complications that eventually lead to death.
The forest law enforcers account for more than half of the total KFS human capital.
“Forest Rangers are at the frontline in the protection of our God-given natural resources, heritage, and splendour; the forests and allied resources therein.
Every day and moment, they strive to ensure the forests and allied resources are safe guarded and protected for the benefit of the present and future generations,” he added.
The institution has rangers distributed in various stations across the country, and charged with the responsibility of protecting 2.59 million hectares of forestland.
Private forests
“It becomes even more demanding on the rangers as the mandate of the Service is not only limited to protection of public forests.
They protect the newly gazetted forest areas, support in the protection of the community forests and in some instances private forests and critical installations and equipment of the service,” he added.
Forest rangers also participate in the National Securities functions and multi-agency operations such as the one going on in Boni Forest, Mau Forests, Mt Elgon and Samburu Forests.
“To improve the welfare and working environment of Forest Rangers, the Service has embarked on an ambitious agenda to train and equip each and every Forest Ranger, provide adequate and ideal housing, uniform, risk allowance, medical cover, career progression among others.
“For instance, in the last Financial Year 2019/20 about 98 ranger houses were refurbished.
