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By Isabella Maua
Mt. Elgon farmers in Bungoma County who’ve been benefiting from PELIS at Kaberwa Forest Station have been forced to vacate the area with immediate effect for lack of adherence to PELIS objectivity.
In a statement, Kaberwa Forest Station Manager Godfrey Opana bewailed that despite their devotion to assist in plantation establishment and food security for Community Forest Association members, their efforts have lost significance.
“It’s unfortunate that the main objective hasn’t been realized since there has been commitment of numerous offenses like failure to pay PELIS revenue and over pruning of established trees,” highlighted Opana.
PELIS, which is a governance scheme by the Kenya Forest Service to increase forest cover and restore degraded forests in the country, has for long been controversial, especially in Mt. Elgon, where farmers hold different opinions regarding whether it’s resourceful or not.
Manu Limo supports the existence of PELIS and wishes CFA would work closely with the nearby communities to realize its full potential.
“Over the years, I’ve witnessed people sending their children to school because of PELIS cultivation; the homeless have bought land and established homes, and many have gotten employment out of it,” observed Limo.
Emmanuel Kibet, however, holds a contrary opinion, citing that closing down PELIS is a viable idea and that those cultivating near riverbanks should be evicted promptly.
“Re-registration should be done because many beneficiaries have made business out of these lands by leasing to outsiders who don’t care about our forest at all,” deplored Kibet, who admits to having once benefited from the project.
He added, “Because of deforestation, our lovely animals and birds have lost their natural habitat, and we’re subsequently losing our identity of protecting our wildlife as our heritage.”
Trampling on planted trees using ox ploughs, using hazardous chemicals to control weeds, cultivating without planting trees, and lack of proper identification of plot owners and documentation have been among the highlighted offenses.
“Because of committing these offenses contrary to Kenya Gazette supplement number 75 and legislation supplementary number 47 on forest rules, the perpetrators are hereby instructed to vacate cultivated areas by December 31, 2023,Opana commanded.