MPs have launched a probe into the export of baobab trees to Georgia.
Members
of the National Assembly Committee on Environment, Forestry and
Mining have summoned officials from the National Environment
Management Authority (Nema), Kenya Health Plant Inspectorate Service
(Kephis) and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to shed more light on the
agreement to export the indigenous trees to Shekvetili Dendrological
Park Ltd in Ureki, Ozurgeti Municipality, Georgia.
The lawmakers accuse the three State agencies of lacking transparency and engaging in corruption in the controversial sale of the trees. The entities, however, maintain the trees are not an endangered species and can, therefore, be traded.
The investigations are in response to a request by the Kilifi County Environment Department after Tezo MCA Tom Chengo petitioned the assembly seeking to know how locals stand to benefit from the deal. Six baobab trees were uprooted in Tezo and two others in Majaoni in Kilifi North Constituency.
Yesterday, the parliamentary committee that is headed by Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren had a session with the Kilifi County Assembly Committee on Environment chaired by Ganze MCA Karisa Ngirani before embarking on-site visits. The MPs noted that there was a lot of information that KFS, Kephis and Nema did not want to disclose.
“The
major problem with officers from Nema, KFS and Kephis is that you do
not want to tell us the truth because you refused to explain our
concerns and started covering up your offices,” Mr Kamuren said.
The MPs also discovered that the institutions did not involve locals
in the plans as required under the Constitution and failed to ensure
that the buyer, Mr George Gvasaliya, had fulfilled the mutually
agreed terms before uprooting the trees.
Mr Kamuren said officers found responsible for the illegal procedures would be held liable. He cautioned the officers against concealing information.
KFS official James Mwendenyi admitted that they did not follow procedures. Nema’s Robert Orinna disclosed that they approved the construction of a temporary jetty after Ariba Seaweed International Ltd and Mr Gvasaliya conducted an environmental impact assessment.
The officers further disclosed that Mr Gvasaliya had leased the piece of land.
“They were only allowed to export eight baobab trees [but] no baobab has left the country yet. We track the trees while in transit, and they cannot move from one place to another without a movement permit. As KFS, we have assigned officers who visit the site daily to ensure that nothing leaves,” Kilifi County Conservation Officer Elvis Fondo.
Kilifi County Woman Representative Getrude Mbeyu said reports on the buying price of the trees indicated by government officials conflicted with that revealed by the farmers.
“Farmers
complained that they sold the baobabs at Sh100,000 per tree while the
price in Georgia was in the millions yet we were told they received
Sh300,000 per tree,” she said. Kilifi North MP Owen Baya demanded
to know measures put in place by the government to ensure that Mr
Gvasaliya fulfils the mutually agreed terms before exporting the
trees.
Turkana Central MP Joseph Emathe said there was a need for the country to have clear laws guiding export of genetic materials. The government in February authorised Mr Gavasaliya to export eight baobab trees to Georgia for recreational and educational purposes.
This
is after the Environment and Land Court in Malindi had suspended the
deal pending the determination of a case filed by Kituo Cha Sheria
challenging its legality. KFS Chief Conservator Julius Kamau, in a
January 30 letter, approved the export following instructions from
Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya on January 18.