Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued fresh orders to the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) after some of its rangers were captured in a viral video assaulting an elderly man.
CS Duale issued the orders on Wednesday, November 20 while responding to the interdiction of one ranger by KFS after they were captured assaulting an elderly man in Lunga Lunga Sub County, Kwale County.
The CS welcomed the interdiction of the ranger by KFS which was announced on Tuesday but went on to highlight that the other rangers captured in the video should be interdicted too.
While issuing the orders to the Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko, Duale argued that in as much as the government is firm in its determination to end all forms of forest crimes including illegal logging, the assault was unacceptable.
In a video seen by The Kenya Times that has widely circulated on social media platforms, a team of officers believed to be KFS rangers were recorded harassing a man by compelling him to entertain them through song and dance.
The rangers were heard accusing the man of fetching firewood inside a protected forest located within Lunga Lunga During the incident.
“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 were spotted forcibly making the man lie on the ground before a female officer proceeded to strike him severally. At this time, the man could be heard groaning as he got whipped.
Duale issues fresh orders after Kenya Forest Service interdicts ranger
KFS while announcing the interdiction of the officer through a statement issued on Tuesday had termed the act as unacceptable.
The Service added that the actions of the ranger as depicted in the video did not reflect its ethos.
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While reacting to the interdiction, CS Duale ordered the interdiction of the other rangers captured in the assault, adding that such brutal acts that are clearly a violation of human dignity and rights cannot be condoned.
“My attention has been drawn to a repugnant video circulating online of Kenya Forest Service Rangers brutalizing a citizen found ferrying firewood in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County. 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,” said Duale.
He added, “I therefore direct the Chief Conservator of Forests to immediately interdict the rest of the Rangers involved in accordance with established procedures.”
KFS responds after uproar
Duale’s fresh orders came after KFS assured Kenyans that investigations were ongoing and that all those responsible will be held to account.
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KFS went ahead to urge Kenyans to report any such incidents of harassment, corruption and forest crimes to the nearest police station or send an email to: [email protected].
“The Service upholds Human Rights -Based Approach in conducting any arrests of forest offenders and all staff are empowered with the necessary skills and knowledge,” the statement by KFS read in part.
The response by the Service came after the viral video drew the attention of many Kenyans, including human rights activists, who called on the National Police Service (NPS) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take action against the officers.
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