Who Is Responsible for Tree Cutting in the Aberdares as Timber Trucks Draw Public Scrutiny?

By Endoo Media

Questions are mounting over who is authorising and carrying out tree harvesting in the Aberdare Forest ecosystem following the circulation of videos and photographs appearing to show heavily loaded trucks transporting timber from forested areas in Kenya.

The footage has renewed public concern about the management of the country’s forests, with the Aberdares among the ecosystems facing scrutiny over tree cutting and timber transportation.

However, the identity of the companies or individuals responsible for the specific operations captured in the circulating images remains unclear. The circumstances surrounding the footage, including when and where it was recorded, also require independent verification.

The emerging concerns raise important questions for the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the State Department for Forestry and other relevant authorities: Who authorised the harvesting? Which companies or contractors are involved? What type of trees are being cut, and where is the timber being taken?

Kenyans also deserve to know whether the harvesting is confined to designated commercial plantations or whether indigenous trees in protected forest areas are being affected.

Calls for transparency over forest harvesting

The Kenya Forest Service has previously defended tree harvesting in selected parts of the Aberdare ecosystem, explaining that some areas contain mature and over-mature plantation trees earmarked for harvesting under established forest management procedures.

In January 2025, the agency identified selected compartments in Gathara Beat, North Kinangop Forest Station, and the Kiboro and Holy Ork forest blocks in South Kinangop for plantation harvesting. KFS maintained that the operations involved commercial plantations and were not intended to destroy indigenous forests.

The agency also referred to environmental assessment and plans to re-establish plantations after harvesting.

In September 2025, KFS published a public participation report on the proposed disposal and harvesting of mature and over-mature plantation trees in the Aberdare Forest ecosystem.

While commercial plantation harvesting can be a legitimate forestry activity when properly authorised and managed, questions remain about the specific operations shown in the latest circulating footage and whether they correspond to approved harvesting plans.

The public therefore needs clear information on the locations approved for harvesting, the companies awarded contracts, the permits issued, the volume of timber being removed and the measures in place to ensure harvested areas are restored.

The Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, provides a legal framework for regulating forest resources. KFS has also stated that timber transportation requires the appropriate documentation and movement permits.

Without transparent disclosure of these records, it may be difficult for the public to distinguish authorised commercial activity from unlawful tree cutting.

Why the Aberdares matter

The Aberdare ecosystem is an important water catchment area that supports rivers, agriculture, wildlife and communities in several parts of the country. Its forests also help regulate water flows, protect soils and provide habitats for numerous plant and animal species.

Continued forest degradation could therefore have consequences extending far beyond the areas where trees are felled.

One of the biggest risks is the loss of water security. Trees and forest vegetation help regulate the movement of rainwater into the soil, reducing rapid runoff and supporting the replenishment of water sources. Extensive forest degradation can disrupt these natural processes and increase pressure on rivers and other water supplies.

Deforestation can also expose the soil to erosion. Without vegetation to hold the soil together, heavy rainfall can wash away fertile topsoil, increase sediment in rivers and damage downstream water systems. The loss of fertile soil may eventually affect agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of farming communities.

Another concern is biodiversity loss. Indigenous forests provide habitats for wildlife, birds, insects and plants. Where these habitats are damaged or fragmented, species can lose food sources, breeding grounds and safe movement corridors.

Tree cutting can also contribute to climate change by reducing the amount of carbon stored in forests. When felled trees decay or are burned, some of that stored carbon returns to the atmosphere. The removal of forest cover also weakens the ecosystem’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide over time.

The economic consequences could be equally serious. Communities depend on forests for water, tourism, farming, recreation and other ecosystem services. Damage to these resources can undermine local livelihoods and increase the cost of restoring degraded landscapes.

Governor previously raised alarm

Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha raised concerns in December 2025 over what he described as massive and uncontrolled tree cutting in the Aberdares.

According to a report by the Kenya News Agency, Badilisha warned that continued deforestation threatened water security, agriculture and livelihoods in Nyandarua and other downstream areas dependent on the forest ecosystem.

His concerns underscore the importance of establishing whether current harvesting activities are being conducted within approved limits and whether restoration measures are being implemented effectively.

The concerns, however, should be assessed against documented evidence of the particular harvesting operations rather than photographs alone.

Who will account for the trees being removed?

The key issue is not simply whether timber trucks are leaving forested areas, but whether every load can be traced to a lawful source and whether the harvesting is consistent with approved forest management plans.

KFS should clarify the status of the operations shown in the circulating footage and disclose, where appropriate, the relevant harvesting authorisations, contractor details, timber quantities and restoration plans.

The State Department for Forestry and other oversight agencies should also explain how compliance is monitored, what inspections have been conducted and whether any violations have been detected.

Where unlawful harvesting is established, the responsible parties should face the consequences provided for under the law. Where harvesting is authorised, the public should be given sufficient information to understand its purpose, scope and environmental safeguards.

Forest conservation does not necessarily require the abandonment of all commercial timber production. It requires a clear distinction between properly managed plantations and the destruction of ecologically important forest cover.

For residents who depend on the Aberdares for water and other natural resources, the stakes are considerable. The long-term health of the ecosystem affects not only the present generation but also the communities that will depend on these resources in the years ahead.

As concern over the circulating images grows, the central question remains: Who is responsible for the trees being cut, who authorised the operations, and what safeguards are in place to ensure that the Aberdare Forest is not being irreversibly damaged?

The public deserves clear answers supported by records, inspections and transparent accountability