NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) could soon extend its mandate to private and community-owned forests if Parliament approves a new amendment to the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016.
The proposed law, tabled by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, seeks to allow KFS to provide technical support to counties and private landowners in developing agro-forestry and commercial forestry projects.
Currently, the Service is limited to managing state-owned forests. The amendment aims to align with global conservation practices while boosting KFS revenues, which have been strained by the ongoing logging ban that cut timber-related income.
“The Bill proposes an amendment to Section 8 which seeks to provide for certain additional functions of the Service, including development of agro-forestry and commercial forestry in private and community land, in collaboration with county governments and private forest owners,” Ichung’wah said.
If passed, the Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary will also gain powers to designate KFS officers as uniformed and disciplined officers — a mandate previously under the Interior CS.
This would formalize the status of all KFS officers, requiring them to undergo training and take an oath of service.
The Bill introduces stiffer penalties for illegal logging and forest destruction. Offenders could face a minimum fine of Sh1 million or at least one year in prison, up from the current Sh100,000 or six months.
Smuggling prohibited forest products would attract fines of Sh5 million or jail terms of three years.
Crucially, private and community forests would receive the same legal protection as public forests, with offenders facing prosecution for illegal exploitation.
The reforms are expected to help Kenya meet its target of increasing forest cover from 7.2 million hectares to 10.6 million hectares — a commitment made under an Sh83 billion climate resilience loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Officials say the expanded mandate will not only strengthen forest conservation but also diversify KFS income streams while supporting Kenya’s environmental and economic sustainability goals.
