Forestry PS Gitonga Mugambi Hosts Kenya Delegation on Commercial Forestry Insights

By:Brian Wachira

Principal Secretary for Forestry, Mr. Gitonga Mugambi, hosted the Kenya delegation that recently returned from an exposure and study visit to South Africa focused on commercial forestry.

The meeting, held at the Ministry’s headquarters, provided a platform for the delegation to brief the PS on key takeaways and proposed actions to advance Kenya’s commercial forestry sector.

The delegation, led by Mr. James Mwai from Gatsby Africa, highlighted critical areas of focus for both the private sector and government. Among the key recommendations were the development of policies to attract investments in commercial forestry, granting the industry greater autonomy, and fostering self-regulation.

The team also emphasized the importance of adopting agroforestry practices to enhance food security and improve livelihoods—objectives aligned with Kenya Kwanza’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

PS Mugambi commended the efforts of commercial forestry stakeholders and urged them to actively participate in shaping policy through public consultations on draft regulations under the Forest Conservation and Management Act (FCMA), Cap 385 Laws of Kenya.

He emphasized that these regulations are pivotal for sustainable forest management and creating an enabling environment for investment in the sector.

The meeting was attended by key forestry stakeholders, including Dr. Margaret Kaigongi and Dr. George Muthike from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Ms. Josyline Thambu from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and Ms. Moraa Mogeni, Head of Public Communications at the Ministry.

The study visit to South Africa provided valuable insights into best practices in commercial forestry, including innovative technologies and sustainable models that could be adapted to Kenya’s unique context.

The delegation noted that implementing these lessons could address challenges such as limited access to quality planting materials, weak market coordination among growers, and inadequate processing capacity—all of which hinder sector growth in Kenya.