Elgeyo Marakwet: Rampant encroachment and grazing of animals in government-owned forests have been cited as the major challenges facing the management of forests in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Presenting a report to the Court Users Committee, Elgeyo Forest Station Manager Inspector Joseph Mahiri highlighted the problems of encroachment and overgrazing impacting forest conservation efforts.
According to Kenya News Agency, Inspector Mahiri informed the committee, chaired by Iten Senior Principal Magistrate Gladys Adhiambo, that encroachment was not only occurring along forest boundaries but also in areas designated under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS). Farmers have been found extending their cultivation of food crops into riparian and natural forest lands, exacerbating the issue. Additionally, Mahiri pointed out that overgrazing was straining the forests’ capacity, with some residents constructing animal pens within the forested areas.
Inspector Mahiri urged environmental s
takeholders to collaborate with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to educate the local community about the forests’ carrying capacity for animals. This effort is crucial to support re-afforestation initiatives. The magistrate also called upon the National Land Commission to provide the courts with accurate maps showing the boundaries of all gazetted forests in the county to aid in encroachment case assessments.
The report further emphasized the need for improved infrastructure within the forests to facilitate effective patrols, as poor roads and challenging terrain, especially during the rainy season, complicate the work of the KFS. Illegal logging, notably of cedar and podo trees in the Marakwet region, was another concern, prompting calls for stricter court sentences to deter such activities.
Moreover, despite government compensation for relocation, illegal human settlements persist, particularly in the Embobut and Sing’ore forests, where more than 300 families are reportedly residing unlawfully. Inspector M
ahiri’s report highlights the pressing need for concerted efforts to address these multifaceted challenges to ensure sustainable forest management in the region.