By Dorothy Musyoka
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has intensified its efforts to support forest conservation through strategic collaboration with enforcement agencies.
In a pivotal meeting held on Tuesday 29th April 2025, ODPP officials engaged with enforcement officers from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to explore joint interventions aimed at preserving and restoring forest cover in Narok County.
Speaking during the session, Mr. Gitonga Murang’a, Head of ODPP Narok County, underscored the urgent need to curb the rampant illegal charcoal harvesting that has fueled widespread deforestation in the region.
He reiterated the ODPP’s commitment to environmental justice and laid out a series of prosecutorial and investigative strategies to reinforce conservation efforts.
Key proposals included strengthening field surveillance and intelligence-gathering mechanisms, conducting detailed investigations into deforestation-related crimes, and leveraging environmental degradation reports to build strong cases.
Mr. Murang’a also emphasized the need to seek compensation for environmental damage and pursue asset forfeiture for proceeds linked to environmental crimes.
The meeting highlighted the application of existing legal frameworks, including the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA), to dismantle criminal networks involved in illegal logging and charcoal trade.
“Among the strategies discussed were strengthening surveillance, conducting thorough investigations, leveraging environmental degradation reports, pursuing compensation for environmental loss, applying asset forfeiture mechanisms, reviewing prior records, and invoking relevant legal provisions such as those outlined in the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA),” stated the ODPP.
Officers were also encouraged to review past enforcement records to identify trends and repeat offenders for targeted action.
Both ODPP and KFS reaffirmed their dedication to safeguarding Kenya’s natural heritage and ensuring accountability for crimes against the environment.
The partnership aims to set a precedent for environmental protection through legal enforcement and inter-agency cooperation, in line with Kenya’s commitment to increasing forest cover and combating climate change.