The ban on logging of commercial exotic forests has led to an escalation of timber prices and loss of over 120,000 jobs in saw milling sector. Kenya Timber Manufacturers Association has warned of more job losses if the ban is not lifted because millers cannot procure enough raw materials as State-owned fast growing exotic plantations are inaccessible.

“Saw millers are unable to get enough raw materials to sustain business while trees which are over 30 years old cannot be harvested thus denying the government revenue ,” said Mr Samuel Gitonga the association chairman in an interview on Wednesday.

He said mature trees owned by the Kenya Forest Service are occupying over 40,000 hectares of land. The chairman said the association had lobbied the government to lift the ban imposed in 1999 but its efforts had bore no fruit.

Mature trees

The only millers allowed to access public plantations for timber, pulp wood, plywood and transmission poles are Comply of Nakuru, Timsales in Elburgon, Raiply in Eldoret and Pan Paper Mills in Webuye.

Kenya Forest Service in April said mature exotic trees valued at Sh56 billion are currently ready for harvesting while pines, cypress and eucalyptus varieties that have fallen down are worth Sh10 billion.

“Exotic trees have to be harvested in 25 to 30 years. Some have fallen down, blown down by the wind or been affected by heart root disease causing centre wastage of tree from top downwards,” said forest service director David Mbugua.

The timber association on Wednesday said millers are ready to adhere to forestry management rules adding that there is need for them to access public plantations to meet local timber demand.

Mr Gitonga said timber prices will stabilise and help the construction industry if the ban is lifted besides saving the country foreign currency used for timber imports from Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The ban has also affected small millers with those operational saying they rely on logs procured from farmers though supply is not steady.