Govt cracks down on environmental offenders

Area Deputy County Commissioner Sebastian Okiring said some criminals were burning forest land to create space for growing bhang.He said so far they have uprooted over 30 acres of bhang in Gwasi Forest and that they were in hot pursuit of the culprits.Speaking on Sunday during a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) open day in Ruma National Park, Okiring urged members of the public to volunteer by providing information to authorities about those behind the menace.KWS Head of Partnership and Air Wing Captain Michael Nicholson said that the KWS was committed to addressing the challenges faced by the rangers.A number of KWS rangers said they are facing a lot of challenges when protecting wildlife, including stagnation in their ranks.Rangers from the Western Conservation Area came together at Ruma National Park for the day.One of the officers narrated how he has been in service for over 20 years but has never been promoted.Nicholson also noted that a number of rangers have lost their lives in the line of du ty in different parks.He said that the issues raised by rangers will be looked into, and those who have been injured or lost their lives in the line of duty will be compensated.'It is commendable that the rangers have displayed resilience and executed their duties with diligence,' he added.Source : Kenya News Agency