KENYA: President Ruto Announces Conditional Lifting of Logging Ban to Boost Local Industry and Sustainability

By Lapit Moses Punyuah- Nairobi, Kenya

President William Ruto has announced plans by the Government of Kenya to conditionally lift the ban on logging, allowing the harvesting of mature trees only as part of efforts to balance environmental conservation with economic growth.

The President said it was uneconomical to let mature trees rot in forests while the country continued to spend billions importing timber and furniture products. He emphasized that the decision would revive local industries, create employment for young people, and stimulate the manufacturing sector through the use of locally sourced raw materials.

“It doesn’t make sense for Kenya to import beds and tables while our forests have mature trees that can be sustainably harvested for productive use,” President Ruto said.

The Head of State reiterated that the lifting of the ban would be strictly regulated, with clear guidelines to ensure responsible logging, replanting, and sustainable forest management.

The government’s broader environmental agenda remains anchored on the 15 Billion Trees Initiative by 2032, aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems while promoting economic utilization of mature forests.

This approach, the President noted, highlighten the need to balance conservation with development, ensuring that Kenya’s natural resources contribute meaningfully to national growth without compromising ecological integrity.