Duale on his X account acknowledged the government’s firm efforts in dealing with the matter through interdicting one of the officers but noted that more needs to be done.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Wednesday, November 20 ordered decisive action taken against all Kenya Forest Service (KFS) rangers involved in the brutalization of a man in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County by way of interdiction.
Duale on his X account acknowledged the government’s firm efforts in dealing with the matter through interdicting one of the officers but noted that more needs to be done.
He said that from the video, a number of officers were involved in the assault and had to be held accountable, thus the same punishment should apply to all the other rangers.
Duale further condemned the actions of the KFS officers, saying they do not match up to the required conduct of government officers.
KFS officers captured assaulting a man in Kwale County on November 19, 2024. /KASHI
“My attention has been drawn to a repugnant video circulating online of Kenya Forest Service Rangers brutalising a citizen found ferrying firewood in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County. In as much as the Government is firm in its determination to end all forms of forest crimes including illegal logging, such brutal acts that are clearly a violation of human dignity and rights cannot be condoned,” Duale affirmed.
“I acknowledge KFS’s swift decision to interdict one of the Officers. However, it is clear from the video that more than one ranger was involved. I therefore direct the Chief Conservator of Forests to immediately interdict the rest of the Rangers involved in accordance with established procedures.”
In the incident captured on video and circulated online, the rangers were reported to have caught the man ferrying firewood. They then compelled him to entertain them through song and dance.
During the incident, the rangers were heard accusing the man of fetching firewood inside a protected forest located within Lunga Lunga. “Today is Friday, you should have gone to the mosque to pray but you are here stealing firewood,” commented one of the officers.
Moments later, the officers made the man lie on the ground before a female officer proceeded to strike him severally. The man could be heard groaning as he got whipped.
KFS announced later that it interdicted two more officers who were involved in the case of harassment that was captured on video in Gonja forest outpost, Lunga Lunga, Kwale County, bringing the total number of staff interdicted to three.
“In addition, one community forest scout who was also involved has been stripped of his duties and will no longer be allowed to access the forest. Investigations have also revealed that a chairman of a local community group was also involved in the unfortunate incident and going forward, he too becomes persona non grata in the forest,” stated KFS in part.
The KFS affirmed its commitment to upholding Human Rights -Based Approach in all interactions with communities and stakeholders.
It went on to urge members of the public to report any incidents of unbecoming behaviour or corruption to the nearest police station or email [email protected]
Kenya Forest Service rangers during a pass-out parade in 2016. /KENYA FOREST SERVICE